s
stayed instantly. Every eye flashed upon the bringer of the news, and
behind him stood Pascherette, partly hidden by the trees, her small,
eager face peering from behind a trunk. And as she took in the scene, a
great terror stole into her eyes and her lips opened in a gasp.

The octoroon had played her great coup. She had carried a lie to the
pirate, hoping that his telling of the treasure to his fellows would
precipitate such an assault upon Dolores that nothing could survive it.
Now she saw the attack already launched without her connivance; she saw
the pirate, dead, and saw Stumpy and one of the strangers stoutly
defending the queen.

As she stared, at a loss, Caliban staggered out in front again,
clutching at his wound, and screamed:

"Satan seize ye if that witch escapes ye now! Tear her down! Tear her
down! Then none can keep the treasure from ye."

His last word ended in a sob. From the hidden giant another dart was
sped truer, and Caliban pitched headlong on the steps of the altar. And
Pascherette, terrified now that they would leave their work incomplete,
swarm after the false treasure report, and thus leave her at the mercy
of the enraged Dolores, frantically sought for Milo among the press. She
knew nothing of his secret duty with the blow-pipe: seeing nothing of
him among the defenders, she surmised he was inside on other duty bent.
In desperation she placed all upon a single hazard, and, running out
into the Grove she screamed:

"The man lies! It is a lie, to make ye forego thy vengeance. There is no
treasure taken away. Make thy work complete!"

A medley of conflicting cries arose as the pirates again separated into
three parties. Hanglip's crew, with those of the fallen Caliban,
detached themselves from the rest and from two sides threatened the
altar, where Dolores stood like a statue, glaring at her maid with
deadly fury. Hanglip himself seemed irresolute in the face of the maid's
denial; he stood with cutlas raised, not yet sure whether to attack or
first see to the treasure story. The decision was made for him; for the
pirate bringing the news, seized Pascherette in a fierce grip, and with
knife at her breast shouted:

"This little snake told me the loot was going, lads! Get the job over,
as I do this!"

Pascherette squirmed in the pirate's grasp, but all her cunning now
could not avail her. The knife flashed downward, and she fell to her
knees, her tiny golden hands pressed to her side, b