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ove。 My nymphs danced around the mound of roses； while I sat upon a real rock beside the painted sea and talked with Ulysses … to wit； my Lord of Buckingham … in gold armor。 That was a strange； bright； unreal； and wearisome day； but not so strange and unreal as this。〃
She ceased to speak； and began again to write upon the sand。 I watched her white hand moving to and fro。 She wrote； 〃How long will it last？〃
〃I do not know。 Not long。〃
She wrote again： 〃If there is time at the last； when you see that it is best； will you kill me？〃
I took the shell from her hand； and wrote my answer beneath her question。
The forest behind us sank into that pause and breathless hush between the noises of the day and the noises of the night。 The sun dropped lower； and the water became as pink as the blooms above us。
〃An you could； would you change？〃 I asked。 〃Would you return to England and safety？〃
She took a handful of the sand and let it slowly drift through her white fingers。 〃You know that I would not；〃 she said； 〃not if the end were to come to…night。 Only … only〃 … She turned from me and looked far out to sea。 I could not see her face； only the dusk of her hair and her heaving bosom。 〃My blood may be upon your hands；〃 she said in a whisper； 〃but yours will be upon my soul。〃
She turned yet further away； and covered her eyes with her hand。 I arose； and bent over her until I could have touched with my lips that bowed head。 〃Jocelyn；〃 I said。
A branch of yellow fruit fell beside us； and my Lord Carnal； a mass of gaudy bloom in his hand； stepped from the wood。 〃I returned to lay our first…fruits at madam's feet；〃 he explained； his darkly watchful eyes upon us both。 〃A gift from one poor prisoner to another； madam。〃 He dropped the flowers in her lap。 〃Will you wear them； lady？ They are as fair almost as I could wish。〃
She touched the blossoms with listless fingers； said they were fair； then； rising； let them drop upon the sand。 〃I wear no flowers save of my husband's gathering； my lord；〃 she said。
There was a pathos and weariness in her voice； and a mist of unshed tears in her eyes。 She hated him； she loved me not； yet was forced to turn to me for help at every point； and she had stood for weeks upon the brink of death and looked unfalteringly into the gulf beneath her。
〃My lord；〃 I said； 〃you know in what direction Master Sparrow led the men。 Will you re‰nter the wood and call them to return？ The sun is fast sinking； and darkness will be upon us。〃
He looked from her to me； with his brows drawn downwards and his lips pressed together。 Stooping； he took up the fallen flowers and deliberately tore them to pieces； until the pink petals were all scattered upon the sand。
〃I am weary of requests that are but sugared commands；〃 he said thickly。 〃Go seek your own men； an you will。 Here we are but man to man； and I budge not。 I stay； as the King would have me stay； beside the unfortunate lady whom you have made the prisoner and the plaything of a pirate ship。〃
〃You wear no sword； my Lord Carnal；〃 I said at last； 〃and so may lie with impunity。〃
〃But you can get me one！〃 he cried； with ill…concealed eagerness。
I laughed。 〃I am not zealous in mine enemy's cause； my lord。 I shall not deprive Master Sparrow of your lordship's sword。〃
Before I knew what he was about he crossed the yard of sand between us and struck me in the face。 〃Will that quicken your zeal？〃 he demanded between his teeth。
I seized him by the arm； and we stood so； both white with passion； both breathing heavily。 At length I flung his arm from me and stepped back。 〃I fight not my prisoner；〃 I said； 〃nor； while the lady you have named abides upon that ship with the nobleman who； more than myself； is answerable for her being there； do I put my life in unnecessary hazard。 I will endure the smart as best I may； my lord； until a more convenient season； when I will salve it well。〃
I turned to Mistress Percy； and giving her my hand led her down to the boats； for I heard the fruit gatherers breaking through the wood； and the hunters for 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 t