Montbar knows this.
"It is the rule of the sea that captured vessels are spoils to the
victor. For all his fine speeches, I feel convinced that Montbar looks
upon the ship as his own, and has only come to obtain her crew also to
be henceforth under his command. But, should ransom be paid, Montbar
would consider us freed from all obligation."
That evening, therefore, Hartog stated plainly our conditions to
Captain Montbar, which, shortly, were that if the treasure proved to be
of great value, we would divide it equally among the companies of the
frigate and our ship; if not of great value, then the whole of the
treasure was to go to the frigate as salvage for our vessel; and if we
did not succeed in bringing the treasure away, then our ship and her
company were to be at Montbar's disposal, to do with as he thought fit.
These proposals were received by Montbar with a gravity and shrewdness
which clearly proved his professed generosity in returning us our
vessel was only preliminary to demanding a ransom.
"Let it be as you say, then," he said. "Within a week we shall have
ascertained the value of this treasure, when the matter may be adjusted
in the manner you propose.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200