even that cloak
could they cast upon their foulness. Oh, no; there was no mistake. I
was convicted for what I did, neither more nor less. That bloody vampire
Jeffreys--bad cess to him!--sentenced me to death, and his worthy master
James Stuart afterwards sent me into slavery, because I had performed an
act of mercy; because compassionately and without thought for creed or
politics I had sought to relieve the sufferings of a fellow-creature;
because I had dressed the wounds of a man who was convicted of treason.
That was all my offence. You'll find it in the records. And for that I
was sold into slavery: because by the law of England, as administered by
James Stuart in violation of the laws of God, who harbours or comforts
a rebel is himself adjudged guilty of rebellion. D'ye dream man, what it
is to be a slave?"

He checked suddenly at the very height of his passion. A moment he
paused, then cast it from him as if it had been a cloak. His voice sank
again. He uttered a little laugh of weariness and contempt.

"But there! I grow hot for nothing at all. I explain myself, I think,
and God knows, it is not my custom. I am grateful to you, Lord Julian,
for your kindly intentions. I am so. But ye'll understand, perhaps. Ye
look as if ye might."

Lord Julian stood still. He was deeply stricken by the other's words,
the passionate, eloquent outburst that in a few sharp, clear-cut strokes
had so convincingly presented the man's bitter case against humanity,
his complete apologia and justification for all that could be laid to
his charge. His lordship looked at that keen, intrepid face gleaming
lividly in the light of the great poop lantern, and his own eyes were
troubled. He was abashed.

He fetched a heavy sigh. "A pity," he said slowly. "Oh, blister me--a
cursed pity!" He held out his hand, moved to it on a sudden generous
impulse. "But no offence between us, Captain Blood!"

"Oh, no offence. But... I'm a thief and a pirate." He laughed without
mirth, and, disregarding the proffered hand, swung on his heel.

Lord Julian stood a moment, watching the tall figure as it moved away
towards the taffrail. Then letting his arms fall helplessly to his sides
in dejection, he departed.

Just within the doorway of the alley leading to the cabin, he ran into
Miss Bishop. Yet she had not been coming out, for her back was towards
him, and she was moving in the same direction. He followed her, his mind
too full of Captain Blood to be