Fred. Yes, I have done my best for you -...

Fred. Yes, I have done my best for you - and why? It was my duty under my indentures - I was formally apprenticed to your band - it was through an error - no matter - the error was ours, not yours, and I was in honour bound by it.

King. Good lad good lad.

Fred. But tomorrow my obligation ceases. Personally I love you, but professionally I abhor you - as it was my duty to serve you faithfully when I was your apprentice, so it will be my duty to devote myself heart and soul to your extermination, now that I am out of my indentures -

King. Then do I understand that you consider all dishonesty wrong?

Fred. It is always rash to generalize, but I certainly think that, as a rule, acts of dishonesty are to be deprecated.

Samuel. I can scarcely blame you for leaving us - We don’t seem to make a very good thing of it - we are certainly not as prosperous as we were. I am sure I can’t account for it.

Fred. If you will allow me to make a suggestion while I am still one of you. I think you are too tender hearted.

King. Too tender hearted!

Fred. For Pirates - I detest your calling but today I am bound to speak in your own interests. For example it is a point of honour with you never to attack a weaker party than yourselves, and when you attack a stronger party, you get thrashed - The again, an orphan is sacred in your eyes - you make a point of never molesting an orphan.

Samuel. No, we are orphans ourselves, and know what it is.

Fred. Yes, but it has got about, and what is the consequence? Everyone we catch turns out to be an orphan - the last three ships we captured proved to be manned entirely by orphans, and so we had to let them go. One would think that Great Britain's mercantile navy was recruited solely from her orphan asylums - which we know is not the case.

King. But Ruth, your little Ruth, who loves you so dearly, and who, unless I mistake, has won her way into your boyish heart - would you take her with you?

Fred. Well, I feel some little difficulty about Ruth - I have been at sea almost without intermission since I was eight years old and Ruth’s is the only woman’s face I have seen during that time - I think it is a sweet face. I say, I think so - that is my impression. But as I have never had the opportunity of comparing her with other women it is just possible I may be mistaken.

King. Oh Ruth is well, very well indeed.

Samuel. Yes, there are the remains of a fine woman about Ruth.

Fred. Yet it seems selfish to take her from you - in justice to her, and in consideration for you - my dear, dear old friends, I think it is my duty to leave her behind.

[FREDERIC hands RUTH to KING.]

King. No, Frederick, this must not be. We are rough men, who lead a rough life, but we are not so utterly heartless as to deprive thee of thy love. I think I am right in saying that there is not one here who would rob thee of this inestimable treasure for all the world holds dear.

All. (loudly) Not one!

King. No, there is not one. Keep thy love, Frederick, keep thy love.

Fred. You’re all very good.

Fred. But this afternoon my obligation ceases. Individually, I love you all with affection unspeakable; but, collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that amounts to absolute detestation. Oh! pity me, my beloved friends, for such is my sense of duty that, once out of my indentures, I shall feel myself bound to devote myself heart and soul to your extermination!

All. Poor lad - poor lad! (All weep)

King. Well, Frederic, if you conscientiously feel that it is your duty to destroy us, we cannot blame you for acting on that conviction. Always act in accordance with the dictates of your conscience, my boy, and chance the consequences.

Samuel. Besides, we can offer you but little temptation to remain with us. We don't seem to make piracy pay. I'm sure I don't know why, but we don't.

Fred. I know why, but, alas! I mustn't tell you; it wouldn't be right.

King. Why not, my boy? It's only half-past eleven, and you are one of us until the clock strikes twelve.

Samuel. True, and until then you are bound to protect our interests.

All. Hear, hear!

Fred. Well, then, it is my duty, as a pirate, to tell you that you are too tender-hearted. For instance, you make a point of never attacking a weaker party than yourselves, and when you attack a stronger party you invariably get thrashed.

King. There is some truth in that.

Fred. Then, again, you make a point of never molesting an orphan!

Samuel. Of course: we are orphans ourselves, and know what it is.

Fred. Yes, but it has got about, and what is the consequence? Every one we capture says he's an orphan. The last three ships we took proved to be manned entirely by orphans, and so we had to let them go. One would think that Great Britain's mercantile navy was recruited solely from her orphan asylums - which we know is not the case.

Samuel. But, hang it all! you wouldn't have us absolutely merciless?

Fred. There's my difficulty; until twelve o'clock I would, after twelve I wouldn't. Was ever a man placed in so delicate a situation?

Ruth. And Ruth, your own Ruth, whom you love so well, and who has won her middleaged way into your boyish heart, what is to become of her?

King. Oh, he will take you with him.

Fred. Well, Ruth, I feel some difficulty about you. It is true that I admire you very much, but I have been constantly at sea since I was eight years old, and yours is the only woman's face I have seen during that time. I think it is a sweet face.

Ruth. It is - oh, it is!

Fred. I say I think it is; that is my impression. But as I have never had an opportunity of comparing you with other women, it is just possible I may be mistaken.

King. True.

Fred. What a terrible thing it would be if I were to marry this innocent person, and then find out that she is, on the whole, plain!

King. Oh, Ruth is very well, very well indeed.

Samuel. Yes, there are the remains of a fine woman about Ruth.

Fred. Do you really think so?

Samuel. I do.

Fred. Then I will not be so selfish as to take her from you. In justice to her, and in consideration for you, I will leave her behind. (Hands RUTH to KING)

King. No, Frederic, this must not be. We are rough men, who lead a rough life, but we are not so utterly heartless as to deprive thee of thy love. I think I am right in saying that there is not one here who would rob thee of this inestimable treasure for all the world holds dear.

All. (loudly) Not one!

King. No, I thought there wasn't. Keep thy love, Frederic, keep thy love. (Hands her back to FREDERIC)

Fred. You're very good, I'm sure.

(Exit RUTH)

King. Well, it's the top of the tide, and we must be off. Farewell, Frederic. When your process of extermination begins, let our deaths be as swift and painless as you can conveniently make them.

Fred. I will! By the love I have for you, I swear it! Would that you could render this extermination unnecessary by accompanying me back to civilization!

King. No, Frederic, it cannot be. I don't think much of our profession, but, contrasted with respectability, it is comparatively honest. No, Frederic, I shall live and die a Pirate King.