Says M. Radisson: "I've seen that ship before!"
Ben laughs awkwardly. "We captured her from a Dutchman," he begins.
"Oh!" says Sieur Radisson. "I meant outside the straits after the storm!"
Gillam's eyes widen. "Were those your ships?" he asks. Then both men
laugh.
"Not much to boast in the way of a fleet," taunts Ben.
"Those are the two smallest we have," quickly explains Radisson.
Gillam's face went blank, and M. Radisson's eyes closed to the watchful
slit of a cat mouse-hunting.
"Come! Come!" exclaims Ben, with a sudden flare of friendliness, "I am
no baby-eater! Put a peg in that! Shiver my soul if this is a way to
welcome friends! Come aboard all of you and test the Canary we got in
the hold of a fine Spanish galleon last week! Such a top-heavy ship,
with sails like a tinker's tatters, you never saw! And her hold running
over with Canary and Madeira--oh! Come aboard! Come aboard!" he urged.
It was Pierre Radisson's turn to blink.
"And drink to the success of the beaver trade," importunes Ben.
'Twas as pretty a piece of play as you could see: Ben, scheming to get
the Frenchman captive; M. Radisson, with the lightnings under his brows
and that dare-devil rashness of his blood tempting him to spy out the
lad's strength.
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