eggs；　black　figures　against　the　crimson　sky；　were　hurrying　down　the　beach。　Before　the　night　had　quite　fallen　we　were　out　of　the　fairy　harbor；　and　when　the　moon　rose　the　islet　looked　only　a　silver　sail　against　the　jeweled　heavens。
  CHAPTER　XXIV　　IN　WHICH　WE　CHOOSE　THE　LESSER　OF　TWO　EVILS
  THE　luck　that　had　been　ours　could　not　hold；　when　the　tide　turned；　it　ebbed　fast。
  The　weather　changed。　One　hurricane　followed　upon　the　stride　of　another；　with　only　a　blue　day　or　two　between。　Ofttimes　we　thought　the　ship　was　lost。　All　hands　toiled　like　galley　slaves；　and　as　the　heavens　darkened；　there　darkened　also　the　mood　of　the　pirates。
  In　sight　of　the　great　island　of　Cuba　we　gave　chase　to　a　bark。　The　sun　was　shining　and　the　sea　fairly　still　when　first　she　fled　before　us；　we　gained　upon　her；　and　there　was　not　a　mile　between　us　when　a　cloud　blotted　out　the　sun。　The　next　minute　our　own　sails　gave　us　occupation　enough。　The　storm；　not　we；　was　victor　over　the　bark；　she　sank　with　a　shriek　from　her　decks　that　rang　above　the　roaring　wind。　Two　days　later　we　fought　a　large　caravel。　With　a　fortunate　shot　she　brought　down　our　foremast；　and　sailed　away　from　us　with　small　damage　of　her　own。　All　that　day　and　night　the　wind　blew；　driving　us　out　of　our　course；　and　by　dawn　we　were　as　a　shuttlecock　between　it　and　the　sea。　We　weathered　the　gale；　but　when　the　wind　sank　there　fell　on　board　that　black　ship　a　menacing　silence。
  In　the　state　cabin　I　held　a　council　of　war。　Mistress　Percy　sat　beside　me；　her　arm　upon　the　table；　　her　hand　shadowing　her　eyes；　my　lord；　opposite；　never　took　his　gaze　from　her；　though　he　listened　gloomily　to　Sparrow's　rueful　assertion　that　the　brazen　game　we　had　been　playing　was　well…nigh　over。　Diccon；　standing　behind　him；　bit　his　nails　and　stared　at　the　floor。
  〃For　myself　I　care　not　overmuch；〃　ended　the　minister。　〃I　scorn　not　life；　but　think　it　at　its　worst　well　worth　the　living；　yet　when　my　God　calls　me；　I　will　go　as　to　a　gala　day　and　triumph。　You　are　a　soldier；　Captain　Percy；　you　and　Diccon　here；　and　know　how　to　die。　You　too；　my　Lord　Carnal；　are　a　brave　man；　though　a　most　wicked　one。　For　us　four；　we　can　drink　the　cup；　bitter　though　it　be；　with　little　trembling。　But　there　is　one　among　us〃　…　His　great　voice　broke；　and　he　sat　staring　at　the　table。
  The　King's　ward　uncovered　her　eyes。　〃If　I　be　not　a　man　and　a　soldier；　Master　Sparrow；〃　she　said　simply；　〃yet　I　am　the　daughter　of　many　valiant　gentlemen。　I　will　die　as　they　died　before　me。　And　for　me；　as　for　you　four；　it　will　be　only　death；　…　naught　else。〃　She　looked　at　me　with　a　proud　smile。
  〃Naught　else；〃　I　said。
  My　lord　started　from　his　seat　and　strode　over　to　the　window；　where　he　stood　drumming　his　fingers　against　the　casing。　I　turned　toward　him。　〃My　Lord　Carnal；〃　I　said；　〃you　were　overheard　last　night　when　you　plotted　with　the　Spaniard。〃
  He　recoiled　with　a　gasp；　and　his　hand　went　to　his　side；　where　it　found　no　sword。　I　saw　his　eyes　busy　here　and　there　through　the　cabin；　seeking　something　which　he　might　convert　into　a　weapon。
  〃I　am　yet　captain　of　this　ship；〃　I　continued。　〃Why　I　do　not；　even　though　it　be　my　last　act　of　authority；　have　you　flung　to　the　sharks；　I　scarcely　know。〃
  He　threw　back　his　head；　all　his　bravado　returned　to　him。　〃It　is　not　I　that　stand　in　danger；〃　he　began　loftily；　〃and　I　would　have　you　remember；　sir；　that　you　are　my　enemy；　and　that　I　owe　you　no　loyalty。〃
  〃I　am　content　to　be　your　enemy；〃　I　answered。
  〃You　do　not　dare　to　set　upon　me　now；〃　he　went　on；　with　his　old　insolent；　boastful　smile。　〃Let　me　cry　out；　make　a　certain　signal；　and　they　without　will　be　here　in　a　twinkling；　breaking　in　the　door〃　…
  〃The　signal　set？〃　I　said。　〃The　mine　laid；　the　match　burning？　Then　't　is　time　that　we　were　gone。　When　I　bid　the　world　good…night；　my　lord；　my　wife　goes　with　me。〃
  His　lips　moved　and　his　black　eyes　narrowed；　but　he　did　not　speak。
  〃An　my　cheek　did　not　burn　so；〃　I　said；　〃I　would　be　content　to　let　you　live；　live；　captain　in　verity　of　this　ship　of　devils；　until；　tired　of　you；　the　devils　cut　your　throat；　or　until　some　victorious　Spaniard　hung　you　at　his　yardarm；　live　even　to　crawl　back　to　England；　by　hook　or　crook；　to　wait；　hat　in　hand；　in　the　antechamber　of　his　Grace　of　Buckingham。　As　it　is；　I　will　kill　you　here　and　now。　I　restore　you　your　sword；　my　lord；　and　there　lies　my　challenge。〃
  I　flung　my　glove　at　his　feet；　and　Sparrow　unbuckled　the　keen　blade　which　he　had　worn　since　the　day　I　had　asked　it　of　its　owner；　and　pushed　it　to　me　across　the　table。　The　King's　ward　leaned　back　in　her　chair；　very　white；　but　with　a　proud；　still　face；　and　hands　loosely　folded　in　her　lap。　My　lord　stood　irresolute；　his　lip　caught　between　his　teeth；　his　eyes　upon　the　door。
  〃Cry　out；　my　lord；〃　I　said。　〃You　are　in　danger。　Cry　to　your　friends　without；　who　may　come　in　　time。　Cry　out　loudly；　like　a　soldier　and　a　gentleman！〃
  With　a　furious　oath　he　stooped　and　caught　up　the　glove　at　his　feet；　then　snatched　out　of　my　hand　the　sword　that　I　offered　him。
  〃Push　back　the　settle；　you；　it　is　in　the　way！〃　he　cried　to　Diccon；　then　to　me；　in　a　voice　thick　with　passion：　〃Come　on；　sir！　Here　there　are　no　meddling　governors；　this　time　let　Death　throw　down　the　warder！〃
  〃He　throws　it；〃　said　the　minister　beneath　his　breath。
  From　without　came　a　trampling　and　a　sudden　burst　of　excited　voices。　The　next　instant　the　door　was　burst　open；　and　a　most　villainous；　fiery…red　face　thrust　itself　inside。　〃A　ship！〃　bawled　the　apparition；　and　vanished。　The　clamor　increased；　voices　cried　for　captain　and　mate；　and　more　pirates　appeared　at　the　door；　swearing　out　the　good　news；　come　in　search　of　Kirby；　and　giving　no　choice　but　to　go　with　them　at　once。
  〃Until　this　interruption　is　over；　sir；〃　I　said　sternly；　bowing　to　him　as　I　spoke。　〃No　longer。〃
  〃Be　sure；　sir；　that　to　my　impatience　the　time　will　go　heavily；〃　he　answered　as　sternly。
  We　reached　the　poop　to　find　the　fog　that　had　lain　about　us　thick　and　white　suddenly　lifted；　and　the　hot　sunshine　streaming　down　upon　a　rough　blue　sea。　To　the　larboard；　a　league　away；　lay　a　low；　endless　coast　of　sand；　as　dazzling　white　as　the　surf　that　broke　upon　it；　and　running　back　to　a　matted　growth　of　vivid　green。
  〃That　is　Florida；〃　said　Paradise　at　my　elbow；　〃and　there　are　reefs　and　shoals　enough　between　us。　It　was　Kirby's　luck　that　the　fog　lifted。　Yonder　tall　ship　hath　a　less　fortunate　star。〃
  She　lay　between　us　and　the　white　beach；　evidently　in　shoal　and　dangerous　waters。　She　too　had　encountered　a　hurricane；　and　had　not　come　forth　victorious。　Foremast　and　forecastle　were　gone；　and　her　bowsprit　was　broken。　She　lay　heavily；　her　ports　but　a　few　inches　above　the　water。　Though　we　did　not　know　it　then；　most　of　her　ordnance　had　been　flung　overboard　to　lighten　her。　Crippled　as　she　was；　with　what　sail　she　could　set；　she　was　beating　back　to　open　sea　from　that　dangerous　offing。
  〃Where　she　went　we　can　follow！〃　sang　out　a　voice　from　the　throng　in　our　waist。　〃A　d…　d　easy　prize！　And　we'll　give　no　quarter　this　time！〃　There　was　a　grimness　in　the　applause　of　his　fellows　that　boded　little　good　to　some　on　either　ship。
  〃Lord　help　all　poor　souls　this　day！〃　ejaculated　the　minister　in　undertones；　then　aloud　and　more　hopefully；　〃She　hath　not　the　look　of　a　don；　maybe　she's　buccaneer。〃
  〃She　is　an　English　merchantman；〃　said　Paradise。　〃Look　at　her　colors。　A　Company　ship；　probably；　bound　for　Virginia；　with　a　cargo　of　servants；　gentlemen　out　at　elbows；　felons；　children　for　apprentices；　traders；　French　vignerons；　glasswork　Italians；　returning　Councilors　and　heads　of　hundreds；　with　their　wives　and　daughters；　men　servants　and　maid　servants。　I　made　the　Virginia　voyage　once　myself；　captain。〃
  I　did　not　answer。　I　too　saw　the　two　crosses；　and　I　did　not　doubt　that　the　arms　upon　the　flag　beneath　were　those　of　the　Company。　The　vessel；　which　was　of　about　two　hundred　tons；　had　mightily　the　look　of　the　George；　a　ship　with　which　we　at　Jamestown　were　all　familiar。　Sparrow　spoke　for　me。
  〃An　English　ship！〃　he　cried　out　of　the　simplicity　　of　his　heart。　〃Then　she's　safe　enough　for　us！　Perhaps　we　might　speak　her　and　show　her　that　we　are　English；　too！　Perhaps〃　…　He　looked　at　me　eagerly。
  〃Perhaps　you　might　be　let　to　go　off　to　her　in　one　of　the　boats；〃　finished　Paradise　dryly。　〃I　think　not；　Master　Sparrow。〃
  〃It's　other　guess　messengers　that　they'll　send；〃　muttered　Diccon。　〃They're　uncovering　the　guns；　sir。〃
  Every　man　of　those　villains；　save　one；　was　of　English　birth；　every　man　knew　that　the　disabled　ship　was　an　English　merchantman　filled　with　peaceful　folk；　but　the　knowledge　changed　their　plans　no　whit。　There　was　a　great　hubbub；　cries　and　oaths　and　brutal　laughter；　the　noise　of　the　gunners　with　their　guns；　the　clang　of　cutlass　and　pike　as　they　were　dealt　out；　but　not　a　voice　raised　against　the　murder　that　was　to　be　done。　I　looked　from　the　doomed　ship；　upon　which　there　was　now　frantic　haste　and　confusion；　to　the　excited　throng　below　me；　and　knew　that　I　had　as　well　cry　for　mercy　to　winter　wolves。
  The　helmsman　behind　me　had　not　waited　for　orders；　and　we　were　bearing　down　upon　the　disabled　bark。　Ahead　of　us；　upon　our　larboard　bow；　was　a　patch　of　lighter　green；　and　beyond　it　a　slight　hurry　and　foam　of　the　waters。　Half　a　dozen　voices　cried　warning　to　the　helmsman。　It　was　he　of　the　woman's