e after another, lifting their hands and
brandishing their weapons.

"You hear!" cried Morgan. "Pick up the ladders!"

"For God's sake, sir----" began Maria Christina.

"I know no God," interrupted Morgan.

"You had a mother--a wife once--perhaps children, Senor Capitan. Unsay
your words! We can not place the ladders which will give you access to
yonder helpless town."

"Then to the men you go!" cried Morgan ruthlessly. "Forward here, two or
three of you, take this woman! She chooses----"

"Death----" cried the abbess, snatching a dagger from the nearest hand
and driving it into her breast, "rather than dishonor!"

She held herself proudly erect for a moment, swayed back and forth, and
then fell prostrate upon the sand, the blood staining her white robe
about the hilt of the poniard. She writhed and shuddered in agony where
she lay, striving to say something. Fra Antonio sprang to her side, and
before any one could interfere knelt down.

"I--I--I have sinned," she gasped. "Mercy, mercy!"

"Thou hast done well, I absolve thee!" cried the priest, making the sign
of the cross upon her forehead.

"Death and fury!" shouted Morgan, livid with rage. "Let her die
unshriven! Shall I be balked thus?"

He sprang toward the old man stooping over the woman, and struck him
across his shaven crown with the blade of his sword. The priest pitched
down instantly upon the body of the abbess, a long shudder running
through him. Then he lay still.

"Harry Morgan's way!" cried the buccaneer, recovering his blade. "And
you?" turning toward the other women. "Have you had lesson enough? Pick
up those ladders, or by hell----"

"Mercy, mercy!" screamed the frightened nuns.

"Not another word! Drive them forward, men!"

The buccaneers sprang at the terrified women and priests, some with
weapons out, others with leers and outstretched arms. First one and then
another gave way. The only leadership among the sisters and priests lay
upon the sand there. What could they do? They picked up the ladders and,
urged forward by threats and shouts of the buccaneers under cover of a
furious discharge from Hornigold's musketeers, they ran to the walls
imploring the Spaniards not to fire upon them.

When the Spanish commander perceived who were approaching, with a
mistaken impulse of mercy he ordered his men to fire over their heads,
and so did little danger to the approaching buccaneers. A few of them
fell, but the rest dashed into the smoke