Then, as quartermaster, he ran up that emblem of his dreadful trade himself; became captain once more, and, with folded arms and corrugated brow surveyed it gloomily.

Then he went down to the engine-room, put the yacht on half-speed, and, as well as he could, stoked the fires.
For the next three hours the _Petrel_ forgot all the innocent traditions of her youth as a pleasure boat, and traversed the Gulf of Arcachon a shameless, ravening pirate, while Captain Hildebrand, the Scourge of the Spanish Main, issued curt, sanguinary orders to an imaginary but as blood-dyed a gang of villains as ever scuttled an Indiaman.

The Jolly Roger and three or four blank shots from the little signal gun drove three panic-stricken fishing boats from their fishing-ground as fast as oars and sails could carry them, to spread abroad a legend of piracy in the Gulf which would last a generation.
It was nearly sunset before Captain Hildebrand returned to the serious consideration of his business as Cupid's ally.

Then he set the _Petrel_ going dead slow, ran her gently on to a sandbank, and let fall the anchor, which was hanging from her bows.

This done, again a pirate, he looked at the recumbent and still stertorous Alphonse and Adolphe with cold, cruel eyes, and said, "It's time these lubbers walked the plank." [Illustration: It's time these lubbers walked the plank.] "Ay, ay, sir!" said Elsie cheerfully; and then she added, in a doubtful voice, "But won't the poor men get drowned ?" "Not in four feet of water," said Captain Hildebrand; and he set briskly about the preparations for the fell deed.