I would
give a deal to the man who would abstract Sir Oliver secretly from the
doom that hangs over him, and yet do the thing in such a way that Sir
Oliver should not thereby escape the punishment he deserves."
It was strange, he thought, even as he said it, that he could bring his
lips so glibly to utter words that his heart detested.
The captain looked grim. He laid a finger upon Master Lionel's velvet
doublet in line with that false heart of his.
"I am your man," said he. "But the risk is great. Yet ye say that
ye'ld give a deal...."
"Yourself shall name the price," said Lionel quickly, his eyes burning
feverishly, his cheeks white.
"Oh I can contrive it, never fear," said the captain. "I know to a
nicety what you require. How say you now: if I was to carry him
overseas to the plantations where they lack toilers of just such thews
as his? "He lowered his voice and spoke with some slight hesitation,
fearing that he proposed perhaps more than his prospective employer
might desire.
"He might return," was the answer that dispelled all doubts on that
score.
"Ah!" said the skipper. "What o' the Barbary rovers, then! They lack
slaves and are ever ready to trade, though they be niggardly payers. I
never heard of none that returned once they had him safe aboard their
galleys. I ha' done some trading with them, bartering human freights
for spices and eastern carpets and the like.
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