Prince Rupert, the Buccaneer

Excerpt: ''Not slaves, your Highness,'' said the Governor. ''We call them engagés here: it''s a genteeler style. The Lord General keeps us supplied.'' ''I''ll be bound he gave them the plainer name,'' said Prince Rupert. The Governor of Tortuga shrugged his shoulders. ''On the bills of lading they are written as Malignants; but judging from the way he packed the last cargo, Monsieur Cromwell regards them as cattle. It is evident that he cared only to be shut of them. They were so packed that one half were dead and over the side before the ship brought up to her anchors in the harbour here. And what were left fetched but poor prices. There was a strong market too. The Spaniards had been making their raids on the hunters, and many of the engagés had been killed: our hunters wanted others; they were hungry for others; but these poor rags of seaworn, scurvy-bitten humanity which offered, were hardly worth taking away to teach the craft—Your Highness neglects the cordial.''