of disappointment and anxiety, and was
constantly begging to see the captain. The boatswain cunningly suggested
that it would be just as well to let Alvarado remain in solitude,
without food or water until the next day, by which time, the boatswain
argued, he would be reduced to a proper condition of humility and
servitude. Morgan found this advice good. It was quite in consonance
with his desires and his practices. He would have killed Alvarado out of
hand had he not considered him the most favorable card with which to
play the game he was waging with Mercedes for her consent to marry him.

So far as he was capable of a genuine affection, he loved the proud
Spanish maiden. He would fain persuade her willingly to come to his arms
rather than enforce her consent or overcome her scruples by brute
strength. There would be something of a triumph in winning her, and this
vain, bloodstained old brute fancied that he had sufficient
attractiveness for the opposite sex to render him invincible if he set
about his wooing in the right way. He thought he knew the way, too. At
any rate he was disposed to try it. Here again Hornigold, upon whom in
the absence of Teach he depended more and more, and in whom he confided
as of old, advised him.

"I know women," said that worthy, and indeed no man had more knowledge
of the class which stood for women in his mind than he, "and all you
want is to give her time. Wait until she knows what's happened to the
rest of them, and sees only you have power to protect her, and she will
come to heel right enough. Besides, you haven't given her half a chance.
She's only seen you weapon in hand. She doesn't know what a man you are,
Captain. Sink me, if I'd your looks instead of this old, scarred,
one-eyed face, there'd be no man I'd give way to and no woman I'd not
win! Steer her along gently with an easy helm. Don't jam her up into the
wind all of a sudden. Women have to be coaxed. Leave the girl alone a
watch. Don't go near her; let her think what she pleases. Don't let
anybody go near her unless it's me, and she won't get anything out of
me, you can depend upon that! She'll be so anxious to talk to you in the
morning that you can make her do anything. Then if you can starve that
Spanish dog and break his spirit, so that she'll see him crawling at
your feet, she'll sicken of him and turn to a man."

"Scuttle me," laughed Morgan, "your advice is good! I didn't know you
knew so much about the sex."