cowards. Here are weapons. Wrap yourself in this cloak, and come. Say no
word to any one on the way. By Satan, as you love the wench, lose no
time!"

As he spoke, the old man cut the bonds of Alvarado, belted upon him
dagger and sword, thrust a charged pistol in his hand, covered his head
with a steel cap, and threw a long cloak around him. The two then went
forth into the night. Avoiding the notice of others, they hastened along
the deserted parapet, for there were none to keep watch or guard, until
they came to one of the ladders by which the buccaneers had entered the
town. Down it Alvarado, first swearing again on the cross, on his honor,
to respect his agreement with Hornigold and again receiving the man's
assurance, dropped hastily to the ground.

There was no one to look, and he dashed recklessly across the narrow
strip of sand to the shadow of the cliffs, along which he ran until he
came opposite the place of his mother's death. The white water was
rolling and crashing on the beach, and the body was gone. With a hasty
petition for the repose of her soul, he ran on until he reached the turn
of the road. There, like the priest, he made another prayer, and it was
a prayer not different from that which had been voiced so short a time
before.

But his petitions were soon over. It was a time for work, not prayer. No
moment could be lost. He girded up his loins and turned away on the run.
Unlike the priest, however, he did not pursue the mountain road, but,
after going a short distance, he left the way and plunged to the right
through the trees directly up the side of the hill.

His face was cut and slashed by Morgan's dagger; his soul had been
racked and torn by the scenes he had gone through; the plight of
Mercedes stirred him to the very depths; his heart yearned over the
slaughtered garrison, the ruined town, but with a strength superhuman he
plunged at the hill, in spite of the forest, groping about in the
darkness with frantic energy until he found the traces of a slender,
rocky path which led over the mountains.

BOOK V

HOW THE SPANIARDS RE-TOOK LA GUAYRA AND HOW CAPTAIN ALVARADO FOUND A
NAME AND SOMETHING DEARER STILL IN THE CITY

CHAPTER XVIII

DISCLOSES THE WAY IN WHICH MERCEDES DE LARA FOUGHT WITH WOMAN'S CUNNING
AGAINST CAPTAIN HENRY MORGAN

The day after the sack of the town had been a busy one for the
buccaneers. First of all, Morgan had striven, and with some success, to
rest