e child as I may direct, the reward shall be
yours. In the meantime, this purse, as soon as you decide, I will
present to you. It is but an earnest of my liberal intentions."

The exhibition of the gold was a bright thought of Don Anibal's. As the
taste of blood whets the appetite of the wild beast, so did the
glittering bait the avarice of the pirate.

"Give me the purse," he exclaimed, eagerly stretching out his hands; "I
will take the oath."

"Take the oath, and you shall have the purse," answered the marquis,
smiling blandly. "No mental reservations, though; I do not forget your
antecedents, my old comrade."

Captain Tacon gave a hoarse laugh, and twirling his moustachios, while
his countenance wore the expression of a person about to swallow a
nauseous draught, he walked across the room towards the crucifix. The
marquis followed, with a self-satisfied look, as if he had achieved a
victory. It is not necessary to repeat the oath taken by the pirate, or
to describe the final arrangements entered into between the two
worthies.

In a few days Captain Tacon again made his appearance, habited in a
handsome nautical costume, with a huge cocked hat, and a richly-mounted
sword by his side, and announced that he had become the captain of the
privateer schooner "San Nicolas."

"Never did you set eyes on a finer craft, most noble marquis," he
exclaimed; "she will fly like the wind, and swim like a wild-fowl. She
carries eight guns, and an unlimited supply of small arms, with a bold
crew of sixty men, villains every one! There is no deed of violence
they will not dare or do; and now we are ready to sail when we receive
your final orders."

"I knew that I could trust you in the selection of your followers," said
the marquis, quietly. "Here are your orders; you will open them when at
sea, and see that you carry them out in the spirit as well as in the
letter. You will, of course, be well provided with flags. It may be
convenient, at times, to sail under some other flag than that of Spain."

Don Tacon smiled. "I have some little experience in those matters," he
answered, "trust me."

That evening the "San Nicolas" privateer was seen standing out of the
harbour and steering to the northward. It was announced that she had
sailed on a cruise, and would before long return.

It must not be supposed that all these arrangements took place with the
rapidity with which they have been described. The Spaniards love