By the time the others rejoined Roger, he took a very sober view of their chances; and, having given them an outline of his talk with Bloggs, warned them to set no great hopes on his succeeding in his plan. Georgina had relapsed into an apathy of grief, and Roger had a touch of fever, so after Amanda had bathed and re-bandaged his head, they decided to turn in.
Next morning they were awake and up by the time Lucette and Pedro came in to breakfast, and when Pedro had done Bloggs took his place. As Lucette was still there he said nothing of his plan, but, unseen by her, he gave Roger a solemn wink, which seemed to indicate that things were going well, although Amanda inclined to the opinion that it was nothing but an impertinent familiarity.
During a good part of the day Jenny hung about the poop entrance to the after cabins, hoping that Bloggs would have a word with her about their prospects; but he did not do so and left them to spend the dragging hours in futile speculation. Neither did they become any wiser during the dinner hour. Lucette was unusually silent, which suggested that she had something on her mind, but she again remained at table after Pedro had gone back on deck, and did not rise from it until Bloggs had in turn finished his meal; upon which they left the cabin together.
It was over an hour later when Bloggs returned and, touching his forelock, said, "Ladies, I be come ter request the pleasure o' your company out on deck; and yourn too, Mister Brook."
The civility of Bloggs's address raised Roger's hopes, and he shot him a questioning glance.
Bloggs nodded. "Pedro be wi' us. 'E's sounded some o' 'is mates. Some's favourable, some's aginst. But I'll lay they'll all come over when you makes publicly they promises you made to I."
"What of Lucette?" Roger asked anxiously.
"She be considerin' still. 'Tis fer she more than t'others I piped this 'ere meetin'. Love makin' wi' she be easy as kiss yer 'and; but our lingos bein' different makes talkin' 'eavy weather. Seein' that's the way o' things, it come to I that you bein' glib o' tongue could best do your own persuadin'."
By no means sanguine about their prospects, but determined to do his utmost, Roger followed the others out on deck. It was still full daylight, though within an hour a brief twilight followed by night would come with tropical suddenness. In the meantime the north coast of Santo Domingo, along which Circe had been running ever since her capture, could be plainly seen to port, and some three miles distant on her starboard beam the barque of the Vicomte, presumably leading them towards some secluded bay in which he maintained a permanent base.
The deck was crowded with the whole ship's company. They were excitedly exchanging rumours concerning what they believed was about to take place. Bloggs made a way for the prisoners to the main sheet bollards. Lucette was there leaning negligently on one of them. Pedro called for silence then clambered up on to the midships capstan. First in Creole, then in Spanish, he addressed the men.
His words were few but to the point. He stigmatized the Vicomte as a man of mean, intolerant, unpredictable nature, whom no one could trust; and asked why, now they had a ship of their own, they should submit to his tyranny any longer.
Lucette called out: "For the reason that you have previously done so. Because in the past he has brought you much plunder. Because he is a cleverer man and a better leader than any of you will ever be."
A murmur of agreement followed her counter-blast to Pedro's stilted speech; but Bloggs quickly took his place and drowned all opposition by a bull-like roar in which he put the situation to his mates and others who could understand English. The hearty ovation he received from his friends suggested that they had already secretly endorsed his plan, but the attitude of the Porto Ricans remained doubtful, and a number of the pirates were evidently averse to deserting their old master.
It was now Roger's turn, and one of the gifts which had proved most valuable to him in his career was an exceptional ability to express his thoughts, either in speech or writing, with telling clarity. Knowing how much depended on this now he spared no effort to convince his audience of the soundness of Bloggs's arguments.
Upon the English, since they had already been won over, he wasted little time, simply reiterating his promises to Bloggs, but he spoke at length in passable Spanish, and still longer in his impeccable French. In both he dwelt upon the hazardous life led by pirates, who were liable to be shot for the least disobedience by their own captains, could enjoy the pleasures offered in the larger ports of the Caribbean only at the risk of recognition by someone they had despoiled, and more often than not ended up on a gallows. By contrast he painted the life of a law-abiding privateersman in glowing colours, asserting that it was not only safer and happier but equally profitable. Finally, he boldly grasped the nettle by turning to Lucette and crying:
"Now Madame, let us hear you on this question. Do you prefer to continue as an outlaw, or will you encourage the crew of this fine ship to fight her worthily in future under the protection of my mandate?" , Her face was quite expressionless and she was toying with the butt of her silver-mounted pistol. He was suddenly seized with the idea that she was about to whip it out in a swift attempt to shoot him. His eyes held hers, watching for the faintest flicker in them which might give him a second's warning, so that he could escape the ball by throwing himself off the capstan. But his fears were groundless.
Showing her splendid teeth in a broad smile, she replied: "You have made a good case, M. le Gouverneur. But whether I sail with pirates or privateers I can take care of myself; so let the men choose. I will abide by the decision of the majority."
A show of hands was called for. Lucette, three pirates, and two Porto Ricans refrained from voting. These apart, all the others put their hands up for abandoning the Vicomte. It was a clear triumph for Bloggs. But Roger was quick to grasp his chance of continuing to dominate the situation. Beckoning to Pedro, Bloggs and Lucette he said:
"Now we must make our plans; and for that it would be best to return to the cabin."
They followed him obediently as he shepherded the women towards the poop, and when they were all gathered in the saloon a general conversation took place m a jargon of English, French and Spanish. It opened by Roger saying briskly to Pedro:
"The ladies and myself are deeply grateful to you, Captain, and I shall do my utmost to ensure that you have no cause to regret the decision you have taken. I assume that your first move will be to turn the ship about as soon as night has fallen, so as to put as great a distance as possible between ourselves and M. le Vicomte before dawn informs him that we have made off on our own?"
Pedro nodded. "That is what I intend. The next thing to decide is where I should put you ashore in exchange for the pardons and commission you have promised us."
Roger raised his eyebrows. "But that is already decided for us. It must be in Martinique."
"No, no!" The Carib gave a violent shake to his lank, greasy locks. "I am born in Cuba and know the coasts of the Great Antilles well; but I have never sailed to the far southward among the lesser islands."
'That difficulty can be overcome. I understand enough of the rudiments of navigation to keep the ship in fair weather on any course we may set."