he in common with all his mates expected to fall.

"Kneel! See, I give thee my hand to kiss," Dolores said, and smiled upon
the cowering wretch with a tender brilliance that sent a tremendous
flutter through the hearts of the three yachtsmen.

Caliban knelt and took the proffered hand, then at her word he stood
before her, scarcely certain yet that his head was solidly established
on his shoulders. She motioned him to stand on one side of her, then,
aglow with warm color, she addressed the puzzled throng:

"My bold sea tigers, the ship that escaped thy sloop is but one ship.
The seas are full of such. Yet, until to-day, how many have ye been
forced to let go because of thy poor equipment in craft? Thy sloop, how
small, how old--yet what rich prey escaped thy guns since the Red
Chief's swift brig laid her bones here? None! Yet ye complain because I
prevented thee destroying the beautiful schooner the gods have this day
sent to us!"

Now the purport of her speech struck home; the seemingly soft-brained
weakness that had forbidden the rape and pillage of the schooner stood
in part explained. And as the light filtered through thick skulls and
shone upon all but atrophied brains, a deep muttering swelled into the
embryo of a throaty cheer that needed but one look of encouragement from
Dolores to spring into noisy life. As for Venner, his expression was
reflected in Tomlin, and both in Pearse; and awakening or resurrected,
fear was the keynote of all.

"The vampire means to suck us dry after all!" whispered Venner hoarsely.
His friends could only squeeze his arm in mute sympathy. They harbored
no doubts at all.

Dolores went on:

"With such a vessel as this"--pointing to the schooner--"that Indiaman
to-day had never shown heels. And more, how think ye my store is
replenished? Dost think I tap the rock for wine? Does Milo crush the
granite and bring forth meat for thy hungry bellies? Are my treasures
kept at high tide by snatching the colors from the sunset? Fools!" she
cried, and for a moment passion conquered her calm. "In that schooner
are wines that will make thy hot blood living flame; meats that will put
teeth into the throats of the toothless; treasures fit for thy queen's
treasury. And more to thy hand, my brave jackals, those pretty pieces of
ordnance, which the sun even now paints with liquid gold, will outrange
the guns of a king's ship." Pausing, she bent upon the murmuring crew a
look of blazing majesty;