I told you of it." "Then I wish you had left it alone," snarled Pereira for an answer.

"I don't like your friend's looks.

He might be the captain of an English man-of-war rigged up in our dress." At the words "English man-of-war" a murmur of fear and anger went through the assembly.

Some of those present had experience of these hated vessels and their bigoted crews, who loved not this honest commerce, and to all they were names of ill-omen.

Things looked serious, and Leonard saw that he must do something, and quickly.