ying.

"But for these poor people who have so suffered, this, my lord," he
exclaimed with eager gratitude and happiness, "hath been a happy day for
me. Last night, sir, on the beach yonder, I found a mother. A good
sister, she, of Holy Church, who, rather than carry the ladders which
gave access to the town, with the fearful alternative of dishonor as a
penalty for refusal, killed herself with her own hand. She died not,
praise God, before she had received absolution from a brave priest,
although the holy father paid for his office with his life, for Morgan
killed him. To-night I find, by the blessing of God, the favor of your
Excellency and the kindness of the lady's heart--a wife."

He dropped upon his knees as he spoke and pressed a long, passionate
kiss upon the happy Mercedes' extended hand.

"Lady," he said, looking up at her, his soul in his eyes, his heart in
his voice, "I shall strive to make myself noble for thee, and all that I
am, and shall be, shall be laid at thy feet."

"I want not more than thyself, Senor Alvarado," answered the girl
bravely before them all, her own cheeks aglow with happy color. "You
have enough honor already. You satisfy me."

"Long life to Donna de Lara and Captain Alvarado!" cried old Agramonte,
lifting up his hand. "The handsomest, the noblest, the bravest pair in
New Spain! May they be the happiest! Give me leave, sir," added the
veteran captain turning to the Viceroy. "You have done well. Say I not
true, gentlemen? And as for the young captain, as he is fit to stand
with the best, it is meet that he should win the heart of the loveliest.
His mother he has found. None may know his father----"

"Let me be heard," growled a deep voice in broken Spanish, as the
one-eyed old sailor thrust himself through the crowd.

"Hornigold, by hell!" screamed the bound buccaneer captain, who had been
a silent spectator of events from the background. "I missed you. Have
you----"

The boatswain, mindful of his safety, for in the hurry and confusion of
the attack any Spaniard would have cut him down before he could explain,
had followed hard upon the heels of Alvarado and de Tobar when they
entered the fort and had concealed himself in one of the inner rooms
until he saw a convenient opportunity for disclosing himself. He had
been a witness to all that had happened in the hall, and he realized
that the time had now come to strike the first of the blows he had
prepared against his old captain.