human
Thou art one of my children, he said.
gpt
How didst thou escape?
human
Yes, one of your children, I made answer, understanding the word _enfants_ as doubtless he intended, as meaning his company, or crew.
gpt
You were mistaken, sir; and I hope I have not broken your arm.
human
It is bruised, not broken, said the man, lifting it and smiling upon me again.
gpt
I do not remember thy name, but thou shalt be my corporal.
human
Wherein I am mightily favoured, said I.
gpt
Marvellously, too, I have forgotten your name, mon Capitaine.
human
My name! he said, in manifest puzzlement.
gpt
My name! And then, smiling once more, he said,
human
I cannot tell. It is so long, so long since I heard it. My children called me Captain, but that was before the storm. I forget many things; my children left me; they were reft from me by the storm; they died—all but you; and I cannot remember your name! They called me Captain; and in truth I am Captain, by the choice and election of the great Condé. Yes, the great Condé made me Captain, a stripling from Quimperlé.
gpt
Captain Q,
human
Captain Q; and thou shalt be Corporal R. Is it not so?
gpt
And so it is, I said.
human
My name is Rudd; I am an Englishman.
gpt
And we will fight the Spaniards together, shall we not? They must never get my gold—never!
human
Indeed they shall not! I replied.
gpt
And now let us go out into the open, and I will bathe your arm at a brook. ’Tis pity we did not remember each other sooner.
human
Ah, but it is such a long time!