That in the striking, he wrecked the
life and happiness of those he had assisted for his own selfish purpose
mattered little to him. He had so long brooded and thought upon one
idea, so planned and schemed to bring about one thing, that a desire for
revenge fairly obsessed him.

As soon as he appeared from behind the hangings where he had remained in
hiding, it was evident to every one that he was a buccaneer. Swords were
out in an instant.

"What's this?" cried the Viceroy in great surprise. "Another pirate free
and unbound? Seize him!"

Three or four of the men made a rush toward the old buccaneer, but with
wonderful agility he avoided them and sprang to the side of Alvarado.

"Back, senors!" he cried coolly and composedly, facing their uplifted
points.

"My lord," said Alvarado, "bid these gentlemen withdraw their weapons.
This man is under my protection."

"Who is he?"

"He I told you of, sir, who set me free, provided Donna Mercedes with a
weapon, opened the gate for us. One Benjamin Hornigold."

"Thou damned traitor!" yelled that fierce, high voice on the outskirts
of the crowd.

There was a sudden commotion. A bound man burst through the surprised
cavaliers and threw himself, all fettered though he was, upon the
sailor. He was without weapon or use of hand, yet he bit him savagely on
the cheek.

"Hell!" he cried, as they pulled him away and dragged him to his feet,
"had I a free hand for a second you'd pay! As it is, I've marked you,
and you'll carry the traitor's brand until you die! Curse you, whatever
doom comes to me, may worse come to you!"

The old buccaneer was an awful figure, as he poured out a horrible
torrent of curses and imprecations upon the traitor, grinding his teeth
beneath his foam-flecked lips, and even the iron-hearted sailor,
striving to staunch the blood, involuntarily shrank back appalled before
him.

"Senor," he cried, appealing to Alvarado, "I was to have protection!"

"You shall have it," answered the young soldier, himself shrinking away
from the traitor, although by his treason he had so greatly benefited.
"My lord, had it not been for this man, I'd still be a prisoner, the
lady Mercedes like those wretched women weeping in the streets. I
promised him, in your name, protection, immunity from punishment, and
liberty to depart with as much of the treasure of the Porto Bello plate
galleon, which was wrecked on the sands a few days ago, of which I told
you, as he could c