treasure that is ours, not thine! Think ye we men will let ye go, to set the dogs of war-ships upon us? Here and now we demand a settlement.”

“Demand, again? Good Caliban” — she said softly, and smiled upon him — ”thy training has been faulty. Come, I will answer thee.”

“Ye answer us all, or none. I know thee too well to trust thee. Answer these men, who ask thy reason for keeping these three strangers to the detriment of thine own people. Sancho paid dearly for his sight of thy great chamber. Did the stranger who was in there with thee last night suffer, too?”

“That’s the talk; answer!” shouted the crew, led by Caliban’s band and supported less vociferously by the rest.