Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer

de him a knight; but, as that merry monarch himself had said of another unworthy subject w

t represented the extreme of the mode in His Majesty's fair island of Jamaica. That it was a trifle too vivid in its colors, and too striking in its contrasts for the best taste at home, possibly might be condoned by the richness of the material used and the prodigality of trimming which decorated it. Silk and satin f

solation, plumed hat on head, quaffing, as became a former brother-of-the-coast and sometime buccaneer, ama

ike, ruthless, cunning, weather-beaten, it was sadly out of place in its brave attire in that vaulted chamber. It was the face of a man who ruled by terror; who commanded by might. It was the face of an adventurer, too, one never sure of his position, but always ready to fight for it, and able to fight well. There was a watchful, alert, inquiring look in the fierce blue eyes, an intent, expectant expression in the craggy countenance, that told of the uncertainties of his assumptions; yet the lack of assurance was compensated for by the fir

. Fairly bought from a needy father, she had been a cloak to lend him a certain respectability when he settled down, red with the blood of thousands whom he had slain and rich with the treasure of cities that he had wasted, to enjoy the evening of his life. Like all who are used for such purposes, she knew, after a littl

ure of the Royal Governor and the arrival of another he held supreme power) he had been forced to keep himself close on the day his wife died, by that public opinion to which he was indifferent but which he could not entirely defy. Consequently he had not been on the strand at Port Royal when the Mary Rose,

e chief devil of those nefarious bands who disguised their piracy under the specious title of buccaneering, was the most detested. But because of

he drinker the more dangerous the man-yet the room had another occupant, a tall, brawny, brown-hued, grim-faced savage, whose gaudy livery ill accorded with his

ith steady hand, "you are the only soul on this island who doesn't fear me. That woman above yonder, curse her, shuddered away from me as I looked at her dying. But your hand is steady. You and old

cs, swept up from the river and wafted to the Vice-Governor's ears the sound of hoof beats on the hard, dry road. With senses keenly alert, he, also, listened. There were a number of them, a troop pos

the house! Many of them! Ah, they

the Governor's Guard at Jamaica, unceremoniously entered the room. They were fully armed. One of them, the second, had drawn his sword and held a cocked pistol in the other hand. The first, whose weapons were still in their she

--" began the bea

is hand, "Lieutenant Hawxherst and Ensign Bradley of my guard, I believe. Y

flagon of rum. He towered above the other two men as he stood there transfixing them with his resentful glance, his brow heav

nt contumacy. "And bethink ye, sirs, had best address me, who stand in the plac

o browbeaten, though yesterday he would have taken it mildly enough. "And know by this, sir," lift

do you

g, bringing Lord Carlingford as His Majest

t? For

Sir Henry

what,

. You are to be despatched to England to await the King's pleasure.

find it a p

of the proudest family in the Old Dominion, and have been forced to bow an

without a certain dignity. He was striving to gain time to digest this surprising pie

rst out, pulling at the sleeve of his superi

s his brow and by an effort som

to go to England a prisoner on the Mary Rose, to

English court, one who has served him well upon the seas. His coffers have I en

ing Charles II. is dead, and there reigns i

s hat from his head. "He was a merry and a gallant gentle

in which to decide, si

d t

he men of yonder troop will come in

n. "And every avenue of escape is guarded. Yie

" said the old man reflec

dded, "that you'd best make use of that time to bid farewell to Lady Morgan or give other order fo

ead, gentlemen, i

ch Hawxherst followed a moment after. They had always

is not played out yet, and perchance I shall have another opportunity

rear of Ensign Bradley, and at the same time shot a swift, meaning glance at the m

me to our next merry meeting?"

emen, and we'll drink with no murderer,

ling with baleful light, although he

continued the soldier, "t

pose, sirs, that I must fain yield me, but first let me look at your order ere I sur

ed, s

my r

in it, I think; eh, Bradley?" queried the capta

wrist with his left hand, jerked him violently forward, and struck him a vicious blow on the temple with the heavy glass decanter, which shivered in his hand. Hawxherst pitched down at the Governor's feet, covered with blood and rum. So powerful had been Morgan's blow that the brains of the man had almost been beaten

weapon fell upon the floor, he continued, smiling: "Th

ling his lips over his teeth in

t y

"I didn't want to come. I remonstrated w

ed the question. "Three minutes! Three minutes between you and instant death, Ensign Bradle

r, have

g there with that carrion," cried Morgan, kicking

s sake be quick, Your Excellency. Ti

sir. There still

yes,

s he was not afraid-"and speak to them. Do you, Carib, stand behind, by th

l or k

uccaneer, chuckling with devilish glee. "Only

ing!" whispered Bradley, gas

e," answered Morgan co

t h

Port Royal in the morning; that I have yielded myself a prisoner. Bid them stay where they are and drink to your health in bottles of rum,

sudden movem

added Morgan quickly,

he back of his neck he repeated the message which Morgan had given him, which was received by the little squadr

them just

but a hair's-breadth, turn your head the thousandth part of a degree, and I run you through," he adde

he point of the weapon, at the same time enforcing immobility and silence by the most ferocious threats of

it is. Then fetch the fastest horse in the stable to the front door. Get my riding-boots and cloak, and before you go hand me that

g out these commands, Morgan opened the desk which he had handed to him and took from it several rouleaux of gold an

As for you, sir," looking at the paralyzed ensign, lying bound upon the floor, "you thought you could outwit the old

rth nor merriment in his sinister tones. The blood of t

rgan had indicated as necessary

against the back of his neck, he repeate

e when they could as if he had been a pestilence. At a sign from his tacitur

his one now?" a

mouth; the sweat stood out on his forehead; he could not utter a word from fright. He was bound

, "it would be a pity to kill him-"

n tell n

I am gone and set the place on fire. The people are all out of the house. See they re

f-breed

s quick as you c

wered the Carib. "An

llowed me ten minutes. I take it that this house will burn slowly at first, so perhaps you may count upon-let us say-half an hour. I'm generous, you see. Harry

d, murdering villain!"

, and may it be in a cooler place