prang to her feet
also and backed away from him, throwing out her left hand to ward him
off, at the same time thrusting her right hand into her bosom.

"Not now," she cried, finding voice and word in the imminence of the
peril. "Oh, for God's sake----"

"Tis useless to call on God in Harry Morgan's presence, mistress, for he
is the only God that hears. Come and kiss me, thou black beauty--and
then--"

"To-morrow, for Christ's sake!" cried the girl. "I am a Christian--I
must have a priest--not now--to-morrow!"

She was backed against the wall and could go no further.

"To-night," chuckled the buccaneer.

He was right upon her now. She thrust him, unsuspicious and unprepared,
violently from her, whipped out the dagger that Hornigold had given her,
and faced him boldly.

It was ten o'clock and no one had yet appeared. The struck hour
reverberated through the empty room. Would Alvarado never come? Had it
not been that she hoped for him she would have driven the tiny weapon
into her heart at once, but for his sake she would wait a little longer.

"Nay, come no nearer!" she cried resolutely. "If you do, you will take
a dead woman in your arms. Back, I say!" menacing herself with the
point.

And the man noted that the hand holding the weapon did not tremble in
the least.

"Thinkest thou that I could love such a man as thou?" she retorted,
trembling with indignation, all the loathing and contempt she had
striven to repress finding vent in her voice. "I'd rather be torn limb
from limb than feel even the touch of thy polluting hand!"

"Death and fury!" shouted Morgan, struggling between rage and
mortification, "thou hast lied to me then?"

"A thousand times--yes! Had I a whip I'd mark you again. Come within
reach and I will drive the weapon home!"

She lifted it high in the air and shook it in defiance as she spoke.

It was a frightful imprudence, for which she paid dearly, however, for
the hangings parted and Carib, who had heard what had gone on, entered
the room--indeed, the voices of the man and woman filled with passion
fairly rang through the hall. His quick eye took in the situation at
once. He carried at his belt a long, heavy knife. Without saying a word,
he pulled it out and threw it with a skill born of long practice, which
made him a master at the game, fairly at the woman's uplifted hand.
Before either Morgan or Mercedes were aware of his presence they heard
the whistle of the heavy blade through th