eover the
boatswains objected to putting the whip to any back that was covered;
they liked to see the effect of the lash, and judge whether the blow
was sufficient.

The galley moved out of the harbour in stately fashion; at the peak of
the foremast floated the banner of Spain; on either side of the helm
the flags of the governor and the bishop fluttered gaily--fraternal
strips of emblazoned silk. It was a fair sight and a fair day, and
there were proud eyes watching it; but, as is too often the case, the
tinsel and show of human vain-glory enshrouded many aching hearts.

The Spaniard that sat between Morgan and Jeffreys was a powerful,
black-bearded fellow, inured to his lot by three years of slavery at
the oar. The Englishmen were also of uncommon size and strength, so
they could keep their sweep going without putting all their energies
into their stroke as some of the rowers were forced to do. Behind
them, where the Indians rowed, there was more than one stinging lash
and squeal of pain before the harbour was cleared. Morgan's cheek
flushed at the first cry, and he almost lost grip of his oar. The slip
was noted instantly, and a warning, "Steady at number three," recalled
him to his task. Jeffreys gave him a look, and the Spaniard cursed
volubly at his companion's clumsiness.

"Keep a civil tongue, Hernando," called out the boatswain; "your friend
has not had as much practice as yourself; he'll improve."

Hernando spat on the floor. "Dog! son of a dog!" he muttered. "I'll
choke 'Hernando' out of his throat. Time was when he addressed me as
'Signer,' and grovelled for favours."

"Pardon, comrade," said Johnnie.

"Granted! granted!" replied the Spaniard. "I meant no offence to you;
but you will see that if anything goes wrong at this oar, yonder
villain will visit my back with his whip. He always does so."

"I'll do my best to keep the whip from all of us," answered the
Englishman. He bent his back to the shameful work, and felt, in the
bitterness of his degradation, something less than human. The thoughts
that surged through his brain are too pitiful to be set down here.
Chained down in a filthy den, liable to be whipped like a beast of
burden, fed upon stuff that was but one remove from offal--how
horrible! And he could not forget that about a year before he had
stood in the court of his sovereign, proud, happy, praised; great men
shook him familiarly by the hand, and a winsome maiden smiled upo