nd
brain,--as one man might serve another--and there's high joy in it; but
a woman must not serve a man that way--if she'd rather have his love
than hope of heaven."

... And when he awakened, she was still beside him.

THIRTY-THIRD CHAPTER

THE HILLS AND THE SKIES

Varied were the emotions of Dictator Jaffier and Coral City generally,
while Bedient slept through that long day of surpassing fortune to the
Island. He communicated certain facts to the Dictator next morning, and
a day later, the government forces entered and took possession of _The
Pleiad_ without firing a shot.

It did not transpire at this time that the vast inflation of
war-sentiment in Equatoria was pricked with a knife, so small that a
woman could conceal it in her hair.

Bedient intervened between Jaffier and Senora Rey, and upon the latter
a substantial settlement was made, as well as a generous annuity.
Within three days, the Glow-worm had left Coral City for an Antillean
port, to connect with a South American steamer. The Sorensons and one
Chinese accompanied her. The Glow-worm shone as one lavishly rich, but
trembled with fears which she dared not express, until Equatoria should
sink from her horizon.

Jaffier's gunboat, which had followed the _Savonarola_ on principle and
deserted for the unlit tramp, drove this latter destiny-maker through
the coral passage in daylight, and around to the harbor, amid the
subdued rejoicing of the Defenders. Subdued, because the Defenders were
jerky with fear of a trick, even with the guns and ammunition safely
stored in the Capitol--until the message from Bedient to Jaffier made
certain mysterious issues clear.

_The Pleiad_ guests were not summarily routed, but the force of law,
and the flood of light, suddenly turned upon every corner of this
establishment, destroyed the atmosphere for crime and concupiscence.
The paintings and various beautiful collections of the late
art-lover-and-patron, were gathered together in one of the great wings
of the establishment, and opened to the people. The magnificent grounds
became a public park.

Bedient was regarded with something akin to awe for his activity at
_The Pleiad_, and on board the _Savonarola_. Jaffier could readily
perceive how large were the pecuniary interests of Carreras' heir in
the complete demolition of the Spaniard's power, but such single-handed
effectiveness had a supermasculine voltage about it, despite Bedient's
laughing explanati