o it?"

"Free me and see," answered Alvarado, with such resolution that he
convinced the sailor. "The men of Caracas love the daughter of the
Viceroy. They are not inexperienced in arms. I will lead them. The
advantage of numbers will be with us. If you free me, I take it we will
have a friend within the walls. Success is certain. We have too much to
revenge," he added, his face flushing with rage at the thought of it
all.

"That's well," answered Hornigold. "If I free you what reward shall I
have?"

"I will cover you with treasure."

"And guarantee my life and liberty?"

"They shall be held inviolate."

"We captured the Porto Bello plate ship, and were wrecked two days ago a
league or so to the westward----"

"I saw the ship the day of the storm, but marked it not," interrupted
the officer.

"Ay. We buried the treasure. Shall I have my share?"

"All that thou canst take, if the honor of the lady be preserved. I
answer for the Viceroy."

"Will you swear it?"

"Yes."

"By your mother's cross?"

"By my mother's cross, I swear. I will keep my faith with you, so help
me God!"

"I believe in no God, but you do, and that suffices. You shall go,"
cried the buccaneer, all his objections satisfied. "But as you love the
woman, lose no time. I'll be at the west gate under the rocks at ten
o'clock to-morrow night. You know it?"

"Yes, go on."

"I'll open the gate for you and leave the rest to you. You must be there
with your force. Now, go."

"I shall be there. But I can not leave without Donna Mercedes."

"And you can't go with her. Think! Could she make her way over the
mountains?"

"No, no, but----"

"I'll watch over her with my life," urged the One-Eyed. "My share of the
treasure depends upon her safety, you said."

"But Morgan----"

"I hate him with a hatred greater than thine."

"He is thy captain."

"He betrayed me, and I swore to take such vengeance as was never heard
before, to make him suffer such torments by my hand as were never felt
outside of hell."

"You would betray him?"

"It was for that I came with him! for that I live. He craves and covets
the Donna Mercedes. He shall not have her. Trust me to interpose at the
last moment."

"Is this true? Can I believe you?"

"Else why should I jeopard my life by freeing you? I hate him, I tell
you. Remember! The west gate! There are not three hundred men here. The
best fifty have gone with Teach and L'Ollonois, the rest are drunken and