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heexplained Thecry continued around theresadelmuerto El Rojo!"

"Back-from-the-Dead Red? " Valoree repeated, then frownedat theterrified Spaniards"Well, atleastthey shall knohythey die" Raising Jeremy’s cutlass, she advancedon the helmsman, but much to her consternation, the man immediatelydropped his weapon For a moainst wood drew her attention to thefact that every Spaniard aboard the ship was nowgivingup his weapon unasked, all dropping the? " Valoree cried in dislanced around, then turned to face her "Well, " he drawled, scratching at his ear "I’hostand all, there ain’t no sense in afightin’ ye

Most like they think we’re the restof the men that were kilt and yecain’t kill solanced up at hearingagain the hel his pistol free and dropping it on the deck beside his sword Throughout, he continuedresa del muertoElRojo"

Before shecoulddecide on a course of action, a scuffle atthe entrance to the cabinsdrewherattentionValoreeglanced over as theseveral captives ahead of thery He also looked willingto fight, Valoree saithrelief At least soe when the eneht She wouldn’t simply kill unarmed men; thatwas not fair She was just about to move to confront the Spanish captain when the helmsman spotted his coresa del lance toward thewind filled the cloth ofJereer thanshe was, and She hadtofight to keepherbloody red hair fro her eyes She pulledJerelared at the Spaniard with hatred The aped, then resa del rowl tothe those wordsStarkterrorentered the captain’s face aswell"Tell him toshut up, Henry, "she said hurriedly

Henry translated the order into Spanish, but the panicked helmsmancould nothave obeyedhad he wished to He seemed able only to repeathimself over and over Irritated, Valoree drew Jeremy’s flintlock pistol andshot hi forthe wound in his leg

As if that were the signal for somepreplanned form of action, the Spaniards all made asuddenexodustowardthe sides of the ship Taken bysurprise, Valoree andthe others could onlywatch inaalleon, as one, casttheunder her breath, Valoreestalked to the side of the ship and peered down at theabout in the water, unnycowards, " shereedHeandthe rest of theadversaries

Sla a pal rather than fighting, can youiine? "

Henry shook his head"SpinelessSpanishbastards"

Sighing, she frowned at the water below A up, Valoree peered over at where he waspointing The helmsman wason his feet, and had hopped to the side of the ship Hewas now balancing hi As she watched in amazement, theman hefted himselfover the sideof theboat to land withasplashin the water behind his co with sharks was hosts, even for the wounded man

"Ye e should shootthem? " One-Eye asked with little enthusiaso They are not likely to make itto shore ’Sides, noneof thee, but there was no pleasure in killing cowards

The othersnodded in agreement Besides, this wasapparently not the shipof their trueenes they had learnedfromJeremy, ere he took hislast breath, was that the Spaniard whohad ordered the torturous deaths ofher brother and somany of hismen borea scar inthe shape of aquestion mark onhisneck Andthecaptainof this vessel had borneno such scar

Sighing, Valoree straightened and turnedto survey theSpanish galleon"Well, " shesaidsoftly, "it wouldseem we have a ship"

"Aye, "Henry h mento sail it? "

Henry surveyed the shto getto port and pick up lanced at him sharply "Captain? "

He nodded solemnly "Aye Of this, the Valor II I’ot us a fine captain Ye’ve the spirit, the courage, the deterot yerself a reputationand title"When she looked bewildered, he shrugged

"Ye’ve already taken yer firstshipIf any ofthose men out there survive their swi encounter with Back-frolancedat theothers All of thereement It seemed she had not only stepped into her brother’s clothes, but she had also stepped into his command Back-from-the-Dead Red, indeed

Thanks to a load of superstitious Spaniards, she was now the captain of some of the most bloodthirsty cutthroatsit hadever beenher misfortunetoto bea captain But then, Jerehteen whenshe had helpedhiender, theyalready thoughther a boy

Seeingherhesitation, Henryup your mind Cap’nRed - yer brother Jereo claihts, settle down, and start a fa Now that dreamis yours"

Valoreeblinkedat that "What meanyou, now that dreaone, ye haveto make hisdreamcometrue for him Claimtheinheritance, settledown, start a family"

Valoree wassilent for a moment, thenfrowned "But I do not have the hThat hat Jeremy was doin’, earnin’ the money toclaim theestate It’snot been livedin since ye was a weebabe He said heneededa fair suhts"

"Andhehadearned it, "One-Eye put in bitterly"Morethan enough to claihts We wereall tohave hoe anda little plot of landHe - "