hey reckoned that you had been hard on us and that we
might be hard on ye----"

"No more of this, gentlemen, the past is gone. We begin again," cried
Morgan fiercely. "And mark me, the man who betrays Harry Morgan will not
live many minutes to boast of it! I'd kill him if he sat on the steps of
a throne. Easy there!" he called out to the oarsmen, assuming the
command as by right, while the boat's keel grated on the shingle. "All
out now and lead the way. Nay, gentlemen, you shall all precede me.
Carib, here, will bring up the rear. And it may be well for you to keep
your weapons in your belts."

Much impressed, the little party disembarked and walked rapidly toward
the place of assemblage, under the trees. Morgan and the maroon came
last, each of them with a bared sword and cocked pistol.

"Lads," said Hornigold, as they approached the men, "here's your
captain, Sir Henry Morgan."

"The Governor!" cried one and another, in surprise and alarm. The man
had been a terror to evildoers too poor to bribe.

"Nay, men, Governor no more," Morgan answered promptly. "A free sailor
who takes the sea against the Spanish Dons. We'll go buccaneering as in
the old days. These men here," pointing to the group of officers, "can
tell you what it means. You have heard tales of the jolly roving life of
the brethren-of-the-coast. We'll do a little picking in the Caribbean,
then over the Isthmus, and then down into the South Seas. There's wine
and women and treasure to be had for the taking. The Spaniards are
cowards. Let them hear that Harry Morgan is once more on the sea under
the Jolly Roger and they will tremble from Darien down to the Straits of
Magellan. It will be fair play and the old shares. Who's with me?"

"I!" "I!" "I!" broke from the bolder spirits of the crowd, and the rest,
catching the contagion, finally joined in the acclaim.

"Easy," said the captain, "lest we be heard. Hornigold, is there
liquor?"

"Plenty, sir."

"Let each man have a noble draught, then to the boats."

"But, captain," spoke up Sawkins, one of the boldest recruits, who was
not in the secret, "be ye goin' buccaneerin' in boats? Whar's the ship?"

"I have a ship in the harbor," cried Morgan, "well found and provided."

"Ay, but what ship?"

"Confusion, sir!" shouted Morgan. "Begin ye by questioning me? Into the
boat with your comrades! Velsers, de Lussan, Rock see that the men get
into the boats as soon as they have their dram. And hark ye, gen