too, for I have scores to wipe away, and they shall be wiped clean--
clean."

"You are with me, then," the pirate asked; "even as to the girl?"

"Even as to the girl," was the reply, with a brutal oath.

"That is good, dear lad. Blood of my soul, I have waited twelve years--
twelve years."

"You have not told me," rejoined the Frenchman; "speak now."

"There is not much to tell, but we are to be partners once and for all.
See, my beauty. He was a kite-livered captain. There was gold on board.
We mutinied and put him and four others--their livers were like his own--
in a boat with provisions plenty. Then we sailed for Boston. We never
thought the crew of skulkers would reach land, but by God they drifted in
again the very hour we found port. We were taken and condemned. First,
I was put into the stocks, hands and feet, till I was fit for the
pillory; from the pillory to the wooden horse." Here he laughed, and the
laugh was soft and womanlike. "Then the whipping-post, when I was made
pulp from my neck to my loins. After that I was to hang. I was the only
one they cooked so; the rest were to hang raw. I did not hang; I broke
prison and ran. For years I was a slave among the Spaniards. Years
more--in all, twelve--and then I came back with the little chart for one
thing, this to do for another. Who was it gave me that rogues' march
from the stocks to the gallows's foot? It was Hogarth Leveret, who deals
out law in Massachusetts in the king's name, by the grace of God. It was
my whim to capture him and take him on a journey--such a journey as he
would go but once. Blood of my soul, the dear lad was gone. But there