of your following," said the Viceroy, "who would not
gladly purchase life by the same means."

"And 'tis not needed," said the boatswain, "for I have told them where
it lies."

"If Teach were here," said Morgan, "he would stand by me."

A man forced his way into the circle carrying a sack in his hand.
Drawing the strings he threw the contents at the feet of the buccaneer,
and there rolled before him the severed head of the only man save Black
Dog upon whom he could have depended, his solitary friend.

Morgan staggered back in horror from the ghastly object, staring at it
as if fascinated.

[Illustration: ... he threw the contents at the feet of the buccaneer,
and there rolled before him the severed head of ... his solitary
friend.]

"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" laughed the old boatswain. "What was it that he sang?
'We'll be damnably mouldy'--ay, even you and I captain--'an hundred
years hence.' But should you live so long, you'll not forget 'twas
I."

"You didn't betray me then, my young comrade," whispered Morgan, looking
down at the severed head. "You fought until you were killed. Would that
my head might lie by your side."

He had been grovelling, pleading, weeping, beseeching, but the utter
uselessness of it at last came upon him and some of his courage
returned. He faced them once more with head uplifted.

"At your will, I'm ready," he cried. "I defy you! You shall see how
Harry Morgan can die. Scuttle me, I'll not give way again!"

"Take him away," said Alvarado; "we'll attend to him in the morning."

"Wait! Give me leave, since I am now tried and condemned, to say a
word."

A cunning plan had flashed into the mind of Morgan, and he resolved to
put it in execution.

"It has been a long life, mine, and a merry one. There's more blood upon
my hands--Spanish blood, gentlemen--than upon those of any other human
being. There was Puerto Principe. Were any of you there? The men ran
like dogs before me there and left the women and children. I wiped my
feet upon your accursed Spanish flag. I washed the blood from my hands
with hair torn from the heads of your wives, your sweethearts, and you
had not courage to defend them!"

A low murmur of rage swept through the room.

"But that's not all. Some of you perhaps were at Porto Bello. I drove
the women of the convents to the attack, as in this city yesterday. When
I finished I burned the town--it made a hot fire. I did it--I--who stand
here! I and that cursed one-eye