h a people. My country calls. I am her servant."

The moon was round and brilliant as they walked out upon the rotting
wharf--all wharves in Hayti are decayed--the night had grown still, and
through it came the gentle whisper of the tide, mingled with the babel
from the town. Land odors combined with the pungent stench of the harbor
in a scent which caused Inocencio's nostrils to quiver and memory to
gnaw at him. He cast a worried look skyward, and in his ungodly soul
prayed for wind, for a breeze, for a gentle zephyr which would put his
vengeance in his hands.

He had dropped anchor well offshore, hence the row was long, but as they
neared the _Stella_ a breath came out of the open. It was hot, stifling,
as if a furnace door had opened, and the yellow man smiled grimly into
the night.

The crew were sleeping on the deck as the two came overside, but at
sight of that glittering apparition of green and gold they rubbed their
eyes open and stared in speechless amazement. They were reckless
fellows, fit for any enterprise, but Inocencio had learned to keep a
silent tongue, so they knew nothing of his present plans. They heard him
saying:

"Into the cabin, Monsieur le General, if you will be so good. It is
dark, yes, but there will be a light presently, and then--a sight for
any soldier's eyes! Something that will gladden the heart of any
patriot!" They went below, leaving the sailors open-mouthed. "A
miserable place, Excellency," came the soft voice, "but the Cause! For
Hayti one would suffer--A match, if you will be so kind. The lamp is at
your hand." The skylight glowed a faint yellow, then was brightly
illuminated. "For Hayti one would endure--much."

There followed the sound of a blow, of a heavy fall, then a loud,
ferocious cry, and a subdued scuffling, during which the crew stared at
one another. The giant 'Bajan crept forward finally and was met by
Inocencio, emerging from the cabin. The captain was smiling, and he
carefully closed the hatch before he gave orders to make sail.

The breeze was faint, so the schooner gathered headway slowly, but as
the lights of Jacmel and of the anchored gunboat faded out astern
Inocencio sat upon the deck-house and drummed with his naked heels upon
the cabin wall. He lit one cigarette after another, and the helmsman saw
that he was laughing silently.

* * * * *

Dawn broke in an explosion of many colors. The sun rushed up out of the
sea as if