The Parley
“It’s not the houseboat man,” said Titty. “It’s the pirates from the pirate ship.”
“And in our tents,” said Susan.
“Let’s take them prisoners,” said Roger.
“Hands up,” said the pirate girl from the Amazon , who was in the captain’s tent.
“Hands up yourselves,” cried Captain John, and made as if to leap to his feet. Both the pirates shot off their arrows.
“Now,” shouted John, “before they load again. Swallows forever!”
The four Swallows were up and halfway across the open space in a moment.
The red-capped Amazons leapt up out of the tents to meet them.
But they pointed their bows to the ground.
“A parley,” shouted the one who seemed to be the leader.
“Halt!” called Captain John.
The four explorers of the Swallow stood facing the two pirate girls from the Amazon . The Amazons were bigger than most of the Swallows. One of them was bigger than Captain John. The other was about the same size. If it had come to a fight, it might have been a very near thing.