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〃Where are we？〃 I asked； when I had lain and listened to the water a little longer。
〃In the hold of the George；〃 he answered。 〃The ship sank by the bows； and well…nigh all were drowned。 But when they upon the George saw that there was a woman amongst us who clung to the poop deck； they sent their longboat to take us off。〃
The light was too dim for me to read his face； so I touched his arm。
〃She was saved；〃 he said。 〃She is safe now。 There are gentlewomen aboard； and she is in their care。〃
I put my unhurt arm across my eyes。
〃You are weak yet；〃 said the minister gently。 〃The Spaniard's ball； you know； went through your shoulder； and in some way your arm was badly torn from shoulder to wrist。 You have been out of your head ever since we were brought here； three days ago。 The chirurgeon came and dressed your wound； and it is healing well。 Don't try to speak； … I'll tell you all。 Diccon has been pressed into service； as the ship is short of hands； having lost some by fever and some overboard。 Four of the pirates were picked up； and hung at the yardarm next morning。〃
He moved as he spoke； and something clanked in the stillness。 〃You are ironed！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Only my ankles。 My lord would have had me bound hand and foot； but you were raving for water； and； taking you for a dying man； they were so humane as to leave my hands free to attend you。〃
〃My lord would have had you bound；〃 I said slowly。 〃Then it's my lord's day。〃
〃High noon and blazing sunshine；〃 he answered； with a rueful laugh。 〃It seems that half the folk on board had gaped at him at court。 Lord！ when he put his foot over the side of the ship； how the women screeched and the men stared！ He 's cock of the walk now； my Lord Carnal； the King's favorite！〃
〃And we are pirates。〃
〃That 's the case in a nutshell；〃 he answered cheerfully。
〃Do they know how the ship came to strike upon that reef？〃 I asked。
〃Probably not； unless madam has enlightened them。 I did n't take the trouble； … they would n't have believed me； … and I can take my oath my lord has n't。 He was only our helpless prisoner； you know； and they would think madam mistaken or bewitched。〃
〃It 's not a likely tale；〃 I said grimly； 〃seeing that we had already opened fire upon them。〃
〃I trust in heaven the sharks got the men who fired the culverins！〃 he cried； and then laughed at his own savagery。
I lay still and tried to think。 〃Who are they on board？〃 I asked at last。
〃I don't know；〃 he replied。 〃I was only on deck until my lord had had his say in the poop cabin with the master and a gentleman who appeared most in authority。 Then the pirates were strung up； and we were bundled down here in quick order。 But there seems to be more of quality than usual aboard。〃
〃You do not know where we are？〃
〃We lay at anchor for a day； … whilst they patched her up； I suppose； … and since then there has been rough weather。 We must be still off Florida； and that is all I know。 Now go to sleep。 You'll get your strength best so； and there's nothing to be gotten by waking。〃
He began to croon a many…versed psalm。 I slept and waked； and slept again； and was waked by the light of a torch against my eyes。 The torch was held by a much…betarred seaman； and by its light a gentleman of a very meagre aspect； with a weazen face and small black eyes； was busily examining my wounded shoulder and arm。
〃It passeth belief；〃 he said in a sing…song voice； 〃how often wounds； with naught in the world done for them outside of fair water and a clean rag； do turn to and heal out of sheer perversity。 Now； if I had been allowed to treat this one properly with scalding oil and melted lead； and to have bled the patient as he should have been bled； it is ten to one that by this time there would have been a pirate the less in the world。〃 He rose to his feet with a highly injured countenance。
〃Then he's doing well？〃 asked Sparrow。
〃So well that he could n't do better；〃 replied the other。 〃The arm was a trifling matter； though no doubt exquisitely painful。 The wound in the shoulder is miraculously healing； without either blood…letting or cauteries。 You'll have to hang after all； my friend。〃 He looked at me with his little beady eyes。 〃It must have been a grand life；〃 he said regretfully。 〃I never expected to see a pirate chief in the flesh。 When I was a boy； I used to dream of the black ships and the gold and the fighting。 By the serpent of Esculapius； in my heart of hearts I would rather be such a world's thief； uncaught； than Governor of Virginia！〃 He gathered up the tools of his trade； and motioned to his torchbearer to go before。 〃I'll have to report you rapidly recovering；〃 he said warningly； as he turned to follow the light。
〃Very well；〃 I made answer。 〃To whom am I indebted for so much kindness？〃
〃I am Dr。 John Pott； newly appointed physician general to the colony of Virginia。 It is little of my skill I could give you； but that little I gladly bestow upon a real pirate。 What a life it must have been！ And to have to part with it when you are yet young！ And the good red gold and the rich gems all at the bottom of the sea！〃
He sighed heavily and went his way。 The hatches were closed after him； and the minister and I were left in darkness while the slow hours dragged themselves past us。 Through the chinks of the hatches a very faint light streamed down； and made the darkness gray instead of black。 The minister and I saw each other dimly； as spectres。 Some one brought us mouldy biscuit that I wanted not； and water for which I thirsted。 Sparrow put the small pitcher to his lips； kept it there a moment； then held it to mine。 I drank； and with that generous draught tasted pure bliss。 It was not until five minutes later that I raised myself upon my elbow and turned on him。
〃The pitcher felt full to my lips！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Did you drink when you said you did？〃
He put out his great hand and pushed me gently down。 〃I have no wound；〃 he said； 〃and there was not enough for two。〃
The light that trembled through the cracks above died away； and the darkness became gross。 The air in the hold was stifling； our souls panted for the wind and the stars outside。 At the worst； when the fetid blackness lay upon our chests like a nightmare； the hatch was suddenly lifted； a rush of pure air came to us； and with it the sound of men's voices speaking on the deck above。 Said one； 〃True the doctor pronounces him out of all danger； yet he is a wounded man。〃
〃He is a desperate and dangerous man；〃 broke in another harshly。 〃I know not how you will answer to your Company for leaving him unironed so long。〃
〃I and the Company understand each other； my lord；〃 rejoined the first speaker； with some haughtiness。 〃I can keep my prisoner without advice。 If I now order irons to be put upon him and his accomplice； it is because I see fit to do so； and not because of your suggestion； my lord。 You wish to take this opportunity to have speech with him； … to that I can have no objection。〃
The speaker moved away。 As his footsteps died in the distance my lord laughed； and his merriment was echoed by three or four harsh voices。 Some one struck flint against steel； and there was a sudden flare of torches and the steadie