very dry despite
the fact that he was drinking greedily of her beauty. Venner stole a
look at Pearse, and saw in that gentleman a reflection of his own rising
uneasiness. And then, at that instant of shivery doubt, Dolores smiled
at them; and in that same instant three men, with immortal souls, forgot
everything of the world and affairs in the mad intoxication of her
charm.

"Welcome, sirs," she smiled, and stepped down to offer each a hand in
turn--not in handshake, but with an air that said plainly homage was due
to her; and whether he would or not, each of her guests raised the hand
to his lips with reverence.

"What is your pleasure, lady?" asked Venner quietly. He was resolved to
show his friends the way into this magnificent creature's intimate
confidence; and the resolution promised interesting developments, for
each of his friends nursed a similar one. There was, even now, less of
comradeship in the looks with which the friends regarded each other. If
Dolores detected this, she made no sign. She gave a hand to Venner, led
him to the door, and smiled invitation to the others. They followed
hungrily.

"I will give thee food and wine," she said; "then I have much to say to
thee. I have commanded that thy ship and thy men be cared for; to-night
ye are my guests. Come! But first give me thy swords. Thou'rt with
friends." They complied dumbly, dazed by her radiant charm.

They stepped outside into the glaring sunlight; a light breeze was now
singing in the tall palms and making silvery music of the wavelets along
the shore; far away to the southwest a sliver of sail was in sight, and
to a practised eye could be made out as the pirate sloop returning.
Dolores glanced swiftly around, seeking some evidence that her commands
to Sancho were being obeyed; but she saw no man--no figure save the
ancient crone she had discarded and sent to the drudgery of the kitchen.
With a keen sidelong glance she saw that the schooner was heavily
grounded on the Point; a second glance told her that her guests were
thinking little of the schooner, for their eyes never left her face. But
notice was forced upon them, and the reason for the camp's desertion
impressed upon her, by the weird, drawn-out scream of jubilation that
issued from the old woman's withered throat an instant before her old
eyes gave her sight of her mistress and froze the cry at her lips.

"Ha, ha, ha!" she shrieked, waving skinny arms. "That's the way Red
Jabez tau