"I've mixed up considerable with them in sixty years, Captain," leered
the old man. "What I don't know about them ain't worth knowing."

"It seems so. Well, I'll stay away from her till the morning. I shall be
busy anyway trying to straighten out these drunken sots, and do you put
the screws on that captain and leave the lady alone--but see that she
lacks nothing."

"Ay, ay, trust me for them both."

Hornigold found means during the day--and it was a matter of no little
difficulty to elude the guards he himself had placed there--to inform
Mercedes of the escape of Alvarado, and to advise her that he expected
the return of that young man with the troops of the Viceroy at ten
o'clock that night. He bade her be of good cheer, that he did not think
it likely that Morgan would think of calling upon her or of sending for
her until morning, when it would be too late. He promised that he would
watch over her and do what he could to protect her; that he would never
leave the fort except for a few moments before ten that night, when he
went to admit Alvarado. What was better earnest of his purpose was that
he furnished her with a keen dagger, small enough to conceal in the
bosom of her dress, and advised her if worst came to worst, and there
was no other way, to use it. He impressed on her that on no account was
she to allow Morgan to get the slightest inkling of his communication to
her, for if the chief buccaneer found this out Hornigold's life would
not be worth a moment's thought, and Alvarado would be balked in his
plans of rescue.

Mercedes most thankfully received the weapon and promised to respect the
confidence. She was grateful beyond measure, and he found it necessary
harshly to admonish her that he only assisted her because he had
promised Alvarado that she should receive no harm, and that his own
safety depended upon hers. He did not say so, but under other
circumstances he would have as ruthlessly appropriated her for himself
as Morgan intended to do, and without the shadow of a scruple.

As far as creature comforts were concerned the two women fared well.
Indeed, they were sumptuously, lavishly, prodigally provided for. Senora
Agapida was still in a state of complete prostration. She lay helpless
on a couch in the apartment and ministering to her distracted the poor
girl's mind, yet such a day as Mercedes de Lara passed she prayed she
might never again experience. The town was filled with the shouts and
crie