t, sweet Mercedes?"

"I say may God have mercy on the soul of yon poor woman," answered
Mercedes disdainfully.

"Best pray for thine own soul, madam," he roared. "Come hither! What,
you move not? Black Dog, Black Dog, I say!"

The huge maroon lurched from behind his master's chair, where he had
lain half-drunken.

"Fetch me that woman!"

Mercedes was bound and could not at first release her hands, but as the
maroon shambled toward her she sprang back struggling.

"Alvarado, Alvarado!" she screamed. "Help me, save me!"

Like a maddened bull, though his hands were bound also, Alvarado threw
himself upon the negro. The force with which he struck him hurled him
backward and the two fell to the floor, the maroon beneath. His head
struck a corner of the step with a force that would have killed a white
man. In an instant, however, the unbound negro was on his feet. He
whipped out his dagger and would have plunged it into the breast of the
prostrate Spaniard had not Mercedes, lightly bound, for being a woman
they thought it not necessary to be unusually severe in her lashings,
wrenched free her hands and caught the half-breed's upraised arm.

"Mercy!" she screamed, while struggling to divert the blow, looking
toward Morgan.

"Hold your hand, Black Dog," answered that worthy. "Leave the man and
come hither. This is thy first appeal, lady. You know my power at last,
eh? Down on your knees and beg for his life!"

Instantly Mercedes sank to her knees and stretched out her hands, a
piteous, appealing, lovely figure.

"Spare him, spare him!" she cried.

"What would you do for him?"

"My life for his," she answered bravely.

"Nay, Mercedes," interposed Alvarado, "let him work his will on me."

"There are worse places, thou seest, lady, than by my side," sneered
Morgan. "By heaven, 'twas a pretty play, was it not, mates? I spare him,
but remember, 'tis for you. Harry Morgan's way. Now reward me. Hither, I
say! Go, you woman!" he struck the woman he had kissed a fierce blow
with his naked fist--"Away from me! Your place is needed for your
betters. Here lady----"

"Captain Morgan," cried Hornigold, suddenly interrupting him. "I bethink
me you should send men to seize the mountain pass that leads to Caracas
at once, else we may have troops upon us in the morning."

It was a bold diversion and yet it succeeded. There could be no safe
feasting in La Guayra with that open road. Morgan had overlooked it, but
the boatswai