piratical enterprises were carried on on a scale of magnificence which is
without parallel off the comic-opera stage. He never went forth without at
least seventy galleys and a hundred other vessels."

Abeuchapeta drew himself up proudly.

"Six-ninety-eight was my great year," he said.

"That's what I thought," said Morgan. "That is to say, you got your ideas
of women twelve hundred years ago, and the ladies have changed somewhat
since that time. I have great respect for you, sir, as a ruffian. I have
no doubt that as a ruffian you are a complete success, but when it comes
to 'feminology' you are sailing in unknown waters. The study of women, my
dear Abeuchadnezzar--"

"Peta," retorted Abeuchapeta, irritably.

"I stand corrected. The study of women, my dear Peter," said Morgan, with
a wink at Conrad, which fortunately the seventh-century pirate did not
see, else there would have been an open break--"the study of women is more
difficult than that of astronomy; there may be two stars alike, but all
women are unique. Because she was this, that, or the other thing in your
day does not prove that she is any one of those things in our day--in
fact, it proves the contrary. Why, I venture even to say that no
individual woman is alike."

"That's rather a hazy thought," said Kidd, scratching his head in a
puzzled sort of way.

"I mean that she's different from herself at different times," said