honor or lend aid to
the sack of the town."

"That was noble," interrupted the old de Lara. "I may be mistaken after
all. Yet 'twere well she died, for she will not see----"

He paused significantly.

"My shame?" asked Alvarado.

"Thy death, senor, for what you have done. No other punishment is meet.
Did Donna Mercedes send any message to me?"

Alvarado could not trust himself to speak. He bowed deeply.

"What was it?"

The young man stood silent before him.

"Well, I will learn from her own lips if she be alive when we come to
the city. I doubt not it will excuse thee."

"I seek not to shelter myself behind a woman."

"That's well," said the old man. "But now, what is to be done with
thee?"

"My lord, give me a chance, not to live, but to die honestly. Let me
play my part this day as becomes a man, and when Donna Mercedes is
restored to your arms----"

"Thou wilt plead for life?"

"Nay, as God hears me, I will not live dishonored. Life is naught to me
without the lady. I swear to thee----"

"You have given me your word before, sir," said the old man sternly.

"On this cross--it was my mother's," he pulled from his doublet the
silver crucifix and held it up. "I will yield my life into your hands
without question then, and acclaim before the world that you are
justified in taking it. Believe me----"

"Thou didst betray me once."

"But not this time. Before God--by Christ, His Mother, by my own mother,
dead upon the sands, by all that I have hoped for, by my salvation, I
swear if I survive the day I will go gladly to my death at your
command!"

"I will trust you once more, thus far. Say naught of this to any one.
Leave me!"

"Your Excellency," cried the young man, kneeling before him, "may God
reward you!"

He strove to take the hand of the old man, but the latter drew it away.

"Even the touch of forsworn lips is degradation. You have your orders.
Go!"

Alvarado buried his face in his hands, groaned bitterly, and turned away
without another word.

CHAPTER XX

WHEREIN MASTER TEACH, THE PIRATE, DIES BETTER THAN HE LIVED

[Illustration]

It was nearing eleven o'clock in the morning when, after a hurried
conference in the patio with the Viceroy and the others, Alvarado and de
Tobar marched out with their fifty men. They had discarded all
superfluous clothing; they were unarmored and carried no weapons but
swords and pistols. In view of the hard climb before them and the haste
tha