"Drink," I said. "You will need it. The wine is not poisoned."
With the ghost of a smile he filled a goblet which stood at his elbow,
but his hand shook when he raised it to his lips.
And now the noise of the anchor being hove aboard, and the usual
commotion on deck preparatory to setting sail, arrested his attention.
"Come," said he, "I would make terms with you. What is it you want."
But at this I shook my head.
"Promises and fair words once broken cannot be repeated," I answered.
"Besides, I am not alone in this business. There are others who must be
consulted. But you will soon learn the terms of your ransom."
At this I thought he appeared relieved. He probably expected that we
intended to murder him.
I had given instructions for a prize crew to be put on board the
frigate, so that both vessels might leave the harbour together and
presently I felt, by the motion of the ship, that the "Speedwell" was
at sea.
During our passage to the place where Hartog awaited us, King Thedori
and I continued to sit, one on each side of the cabin table, without
speaking, and when we had cast anchor, and Hartog joined us, Thedori,
who had made up his mind to the inevitable, calmly awaited our terms,
which, stated briefly, were that he should pay for his ransom, to each
ship, one hundred pearls of the size of dove's eggs, and that the cargo
of the frigate was to be transferred to the "Golden Seahorse".
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