d traitor Hornigold, there!"

The room was in a tumult now. Shouts, and curses, and imprecations broke
forth. Weapons were bared, raised, and shaken at him. The buccaneer
laughed and sneered, ineffable contempt pictured on his face.

"And some of you were at Santa Clara, at Chagres, and here in Venezuela
at Maracaibo, where we sunk the ships and burned your men up like rats.
Then, there was Panama. We left the men to starve and die. Your mother,
Senor Agramonte--what became of her? Your sister, there! Your wife,
here! The sister of your mother, you young dog--what became of them all?
Hell was let loose in this town yesterday. Panama was worse than La
Guayra. I did it--I--Harry Morgan's way!"

He thrust himself into the very faces of the men, and with cries of rage
they rushed upon him. They brushed aside the old Viceroy, drowning his
commands with their shouts. Had it not been for the interference of
Hornigold and Alvarado they would have cut Morgan to pieces where he
stood. And this had been his aim--to provoke them beyond measure by a
recital of some of his crimes so that he would be killed in their fury.
But the old boatswain with superhuman strength seized the bound captain
and forced him into a corner behind a table, while Alvarado with
lightning resolution beat down the menacing sword points.

"Back!" he cried. "Do you not see he wished to provoke this to escape
just punishment? I would have silenced him instantly but I thought ye
could control yourselves. I let him rave on that he might be condemned
out of his own mouth, that none could have doubt that he merits death at
our hands to-morrow. Sheath your weapons instantly, gentlemen!" he
cried.

"Ay," said the Viceroy, stepping into the crowd and endeavoring to make
himself heard, "under pain of my displeasure. What, soldiers, nobles, do
ye turn executioners in this way?"

"My mother----"

"My sister----"

"The women and children----"

"The insult to the flag----"

"The disgrace to the Spanish name!"

"That he should say these things and live!"

"Peace, sirs, he will not say words like these to-morrow. Now, we have
had enough. See!" cried the old Viceroy, pointing to the windows, "the
day breaks. Take him away. Agramonte, to you I commit the fort.
Mercedes, Alvarado, come with me. Those who have no duties to perform,
go get some sleep. As for you, prisoner, if you have preparation to
make, do so at once, for in the morning you shall have no opportun