uspected that
one of the bodies was hers and that the arch-fiend himself had by some
means disposed of the officers and escaped. Therefore a hue and cry was
raised for him and a strict search instituted by order of the Governor,
who, after setting affairs in motion, returned to Port Royal.

Troops were accordingly ordered out, and even details of surly seamen,
growling at being deprived of their accustomed shore liberty, were
detailed from the frigate, which happened to be the only war vessel in
commission in the harbor. Hornigold, Raveneau, and one or two of the
others known to be former companions of the buccaneer, were closely
interrogated, but they stoutly declared they did not know his
whereabouts and had seen nothing of him. Later in the afternoon it was
observed that Hornigold's pinnace was not in the harbor. Indeed, with
cunning adroitness that master mariner himself called attention to the
fact, cursing the while his old commander for his alleged theft of the
boat, and declaring his willingness to join in the search for him. It
was known to the authorities that the execution of the boatswain's
brother by Morgan had shattered the old intimacy which subsisted between
them; consequently his protestations were given credence and suspicion
of collusion was diverted from him.

Lord Carlingford finally determined to send the _Mary Rose_ to sea in an
endeavor to overhaul the pinnace, in the hope that the former
Vice-Governor might be found on her, although the chances of success
were but faint. The frigate, however, was not provisioned or watered for
a cruise, after her long voyage from England. There had been
considerable scurvy and other sickness on the ship and she was in no
condition to weigh anchor immediately; she would have to be re-supplied
and the sick men in her crew replaced by drafts from the shore. Besides,
in accordance with the invariable custom, the great majority of the men
had been given shore leave for that afternoon and evening, and those few
who were not on duty were carousing at the Blue Anchor Inn and similar
taverns and would be utterly unable to work the ship, should they be
called upon to do so, without being given a chance to sober up. This
would take time, and Lord Carlingford upon the representations of his
sea officers decided to wait until the morrow before commencing work.
One secret of Morgan's success was the promptness with which he struck.
Nobler and better men could have learned a