ed from his astonishment;
but as he flew his leathern lungs performed their office and warned the
pillagers of peril. Out from cabins and storerooms poured the rascals,
gorged with fine wines and delicate foods seized in their pillaging;
steamy with blood not yet dried on their bestial faces. And when the
great saloon was full, Dolores raised her torch above her head and
blazed out at them:

"In five short breaths this vessel carries all thy black souls to hell!
Skulking rats, swim while the breath is in you!"

The torch came down, Milo smashed in the head of the keg, revealing the
terrible contents, and as if in grim jest he snatched up a sprinkling of
the powder and flicked some grains into the flare of the torch. If there
had been any doubt as to the deadly earnestness of Dolores, there could
be none now, for sparks crackled and spit in fearful nearness to that
open keg. Men stampeded for the stairs, hurling each other down in their
frenzy; but Yellow Rufe and Sancho lingered. Theirs had been the
gravest fault; if they fled, it must be only to do penance some other
day; if they forced Dolores's hand, at least she and that scornful giant
must die the death also. They stood their ground, staring defiantly into
her expressionless face.

Dolores spoke no word more. Milo stood like a bronze figure of Doom at
her side, his noble face expressionless as hers. Between them stood that
keg of terrible possibilities. The girl lowered the torch until the
flame all but licked the wood of the keg; a dropping piece of charred
wood fell audibly against the side. Sancho's breath caught painfully;
Yellow Rufe's bloodshot eyes wavered. Still they held on.

"Milo, I give thee freedom!" said Dolores in a low, distinct voice that
carried to their ears like the sound of a silver bell. "Farewell,
faithful friend!"

The torch swept around, fanning to a blaze in the eddying air, then
darted toward the keg. And with a yell that echoed on deck and far out
over the sea, Yellow Rufe and Sancho turned and fled, fighting with each
other, as had their less bold fellows, for the precious air of safety.

Dolores laughed contemptuously, flung the torch aside and bade Milo
trample it out, then she, too, ascended to the deck to view her victory.
The sea was dotted with swimming men, the beach was full of running men,
terrified men made the cliff resound with their cries. Then, sure that
the schooner was free of foes, Dolores looked toward the sloop,