of
Morro Castle, became the scene of sudden activity; food, ammunition, and
other stores being taken on board. Before noon the anchor was weighed and
she stood out into the open sea. On her deck was a man unknown to captain
or crew, otherwise than as the pilot of their cruise. Marti was keeping
his word.

A skilled and faithful pilot he proved,--faithful to them, but faithless
and treacherous to his late comrades and followers,--for he guided the ship
with wonderful ease and assurance through all the shoals and perils of the
coast waters, taking her to the secret haunts of the rovers, and revealing
their depots of smuggled goods and secret hiding-places. Many a craft of
the smugglers was taken and destroyed and large quantities of their goods
were captured, as for a month the raiding voyage continued. The returns to
the government were of great value and the business of the smugglers was
effectually broken up. At its end Marti returned to the governor to claim
the reward for his base treachery.

"You have kept your word faithfully," said Tacon. "It is now for me to
keep mine. In this document you will find a free and unconditional pardon
for all the offences you have committed against the laws. As for your
reward, here's an order on the treasury for--"

"Will your Excellency excuse me for interrupting?" said Marti. "I am glad
to have the pardon. But as for the reward, I should like to make you a
proposition in place of the money you offer. What I ask is that you grant
me the sole right to fish in the waters near the city, and declare the
trade in fish contraband to any one except my agents. This will repay me
quite well enough for my service to the government, and I shall build at
my own expense a public market of stone, which shall be an ornament to the
city. At the expiration of a certain term of years this market, with all
right and title to the fisheries, shall revert to the government."

Tacon was highly pleased with this proposition. He would save the large
sum which he had promised Marti, and the city would gain a fine
fish-market without expense. So, after weighing fully all the _pros_ and
_cons_, Tacon assented to the proposition, granting Marti in full legal
form the sole right to fish near the city and to sell fish in its markets.
Marti knew far better than Tacon the value to him of this concession.
During his life as a rover he had become familiar with the best
fishing-grounds, and for years furnished th