es of it. The blood falling from his left cheek
stained his left shoulder and he was a gruesome sight. He rushed in
again, mad with anger.

"Worse and worse, captain," said his young opponent. "You're not
showing a single quality of a swordsman. You've nothing but
strength. I bade you have a care! Now your right cheek is a match for
your left!"

The captain uttered a cry, drawn as much by anger as by pain. The deep
point of his opponent's sword had passed across his right cheek and
the red drops fell on both shoulders. The two sailors looked at each
other in dismay. The man paused for breath and he was a ghastly sight.

"I told you more than once to beware, captain," said Robert, "but you
would not heed me. Your temper has been spoiled by success, but in
time nearly every slaver meets his punishment. I'm grateful that it's
been permitted to me to inflict upon you a little of all that's owing
to you. Wounds in the face are very painful and they leave scars, as
you'll learn."

He had already decided upon his finishing stroke, and his taunts were
meant to push the captain into further reckless action. They were
wholly successful as the man sprang forward, and slashed almost at
random. Now, Robert, light of foot and agile, danced before him like
a fencing master. The captain cut and thrust at the flitting form but
always it danced away, and the heavy slashes of his cutlass cut the
empty air, his dripping wounds and his vain anger making him weaker
and weaker. But he would not stop. Losing all control of his temper he
rushed continually at his opponent.

The two sailors looked once more at each other, half rose to their
feet, but sat down again, and were silent.

Now the captain saw a flash of light before him, and he felt a darting
pain across his brow, as the keen point of the sword passed there. The
blood ran down into his eyes, blinding him for the time. He could not
see the figure before him, but he knew that it was tense and
waiting. He groped with his cutlass, but touching only thin air he
threw it away, and clapped his hands to his eyes to keep away the
trickling blood.

"You'll have three scars, captain," came the maddening voice, "one on
each cheek and one on the forehead. It's not enough punishment for a
slaver, but, in truth, it's something. And now I'm going. You can't
see to follow me, or even to take care of yourself but I leave you in
the hands of your two sailors."

Robert put on his coat and grea