the message which Morgan had given him, which was received by the little
squadron with shouts of approbation. He turned from the window, pale and
trembling. Moistening his lips he whispered:

"I stopped them just in time."

"Well for you that you did," said Morgan grimly. "Come hither! Face that
wall! Now stand there! Move but a hair's-breadth, turn your head the
thousandth part of a degree, and I run you through," he added, baring
his sword. "Rum for the men without, Carib," he added, "and then tell me
when they are gone."

While the two were left alone in the room, Morgan amused himself by
pricking the unfortunate officer with the point of the weapon, at the
same time enforcing immobility and silence by the most ferocious threats
of a speedy and cruel death. The men outside drank noisily and presently
departed, and the half-breed came back.

"Bind this fool," Morgan commanded briefly. "Then bid the slaves keep
close in their cabins on pain of my displeasure--they know what it is.
Then fetch the fastest horse in the stable to the front door. Get my
riding-boots and cloak, and before you go hand me that little desk
yonder. Be quick about it, too, for time presses, although I have more
of it than these gentlemen would have allowed me."

As the maroon, after carefully lashing the officer with a seaman's
expertness, rushed out to busy himself in carrying out these commands,
Morgan opened the desk which he had handed to him and took from it
several rouleaux of gold and a little bag filled with the rarest of
precious stones; then he made a careful examination of the body on the
floor.

"Not quite dead yet," he murmured, "but there is no use wasting shot or
thrust upon him, he won't survive that blow. As for you, sir," looking
at the paralyzed ensign, lying bound upon the floor, "you thought you
could outwit the old buccaneer, eh? You shall see. I dealt with men when
you were a babe in arms, and a babe in arms you are still. Ho! Ho!"

He laughed long and loudly, though there was neither mirth nor merriment
in his sinister tones. The blood of the poor listener froze in his veins
at the sound of it.

The brief preparations which Morgan had indicated as necessary for the
journey were soon made.

[Illustration: With the point of his own sword pressed against the back
of his neck, he repeated the message which Morgan had given him.] He
was always promptly obeyed by his own people; the slaves fled his
presence when they