ting, or cursing, in accordance with their several
moods. Above the confusion Hornigold could hear Teach's giant voice
still roaring out his reckless refrain; bitter commentary on their
indifference it was, too--

"Though life now is pleasant and sweet to the sense,
We'll be damnably moldy a hundred years hence."

"Ay," thought the old buccaneer, pausing in the entrance, for the
appositeness of the verses impressed even his unreflective soul, "it
will be all the same in a hundred years, but we'll have one more good
cruise before we are piped down for the long watch in."

He chuckled softly and hideously to himself at the fatalistic idea.

By his orders, enforced by the vigorous use of seamen's colts, the inn
servants at once cleared the room of the vainly protesting revellers.
Those whose appearance indicated a degree of respectability which
promised payment for their accommodation, were put to bed; the common
sort were bundled unceremoniously out on the strand before the door and
left to sober up as best they might in the soft tropic night. Teach,
Raveneau, and the Brazilian were detained for conference with the
boatswain. To these worthies, therefore, Hornigold unfolded Morgan's
plan, which they embraced with alacrity, promising each to do his share.
Velsers was too stupidly drunk to be told anything, but they knew they
could count upon him without fail.

CHAPTER III

IN WHICH SIR HENRY MORGAN FINDS HIMSELF AT THE HEAD OF A CREW ONCE MORE

The next morning, after waiting a reasonable time for a message from the
two soldiers at Spanish Town, Lord Carlingford, the new Governor, who
had taken up his residence temporarily at Port Royal, summoned his
attendants, and himself repaired to the seat of Government to ascertain
why no further report had been received from his officers. Great was his
astonishment when he found that the residence of the Vice-Governor had
been destroyed by fire during the night. The frightened slaves could
tell nothing. Morgan and Carib had taken care that no one had marked
their departure. Consequently when the search of the ruins revealed the
remains of three bodies, so badly charred as to be unrecognizable, it
was naturally inferred at first that they were those of the buccaneer
and the two unfortunate officers. It was known among the people of the
place, however, that Lady Morgan had been seriously ill, so ill that
she could not have been removed, and there were some who s