lesson from this old
buccaneer, notably the Governor.

As he could do so, not only personally but through his able
lieutenants, Hornigold busied himself during the day and the preceding
night in enlisting as vicious a gang of depraved ruffians as could be
gathered together in what was perhaps the wickedest city in the world.
It had been decided after conference between the leaders that there was
no place within the confines of Port Royal itself where so many men
could meet without exciting suspicion. He had accordingly appointed a
rendezvous for the night across the narrow entrance to the harbor,
opposite the fort, under the trees which overshadowed the strand, some
distance back from high-water mark. Singly or in groups of two or three,
the men had gone across in boats after sunset, successfully eluding
observation, for the night was moonless and very dark.

There was no room, indeed, for suspicion on the part of the authorities,
save in the bare fact of the possible escape of Morgan; but it had been
twenty years since that worthy had gone buccaneering, and, except in the
minds of his former companions and participants, much of the character
of his exploits had passed out of mind. No special watch was kept,
therefore, in fort or town or on the ship. Morgan was gone certainly,
but nothing was feared from a single proscribed man.

There was rum in plenty under the trees on the point, but care was taken
by Rock Braziliano, Raveneau, and the others, even including Velsers,
that no one should drink enough to lose entire control of his faculties
or to become obstreperous. Just enough was given to make the timid bold,
and the hardy reckless. They knew the value of, and on occasion could
practise, abstinence, those old buccaneers, and they were determined to
keep their men well in hand. No fires were lighted, no smoking
permitted. Strict silence was enjoined and enforced. It was perhaps ten
o'clock before all were assembled.

When morning had cleared their brains of the rum they had taken, there
had been ferocious opposition on the part of the older men. Not that
they objected to buccaneering. They were eager for the chance once more,
but the memory of Morgan's betrayals of his old comrades rankled deep.
There were many beside Hornigold who had promised themselves the luxury
of vengeance upon their old commander. There were none, however, who had
so dwelt upon it as the boatswain, nor were there any whose animosity
and det