"
"That," cried the lady, could have been none other than Captain
Keitt's Portuguese sailing-master, who must have been spying upon
Hunt! Tell me what happened next!"
"He would have taken my life," said Jonathan, "but in the
struggle that followed he shot himself accidentally with his own
pistol, and died at my very feet. I do not know what would have
happened to me if a sea-captain had not come and proffered his
assistance."
"A sea-captain!" she exclaimed; "and had he a flat face and a
broken nose?"
"Indeed he had," replied Jonathan.
"That," said the lady, "must have been Captain Keitt's pirate
partner--Captain Willitts, of The Bloody Hand. He was doubtless
spying upon the Portuguese."
"He induced me," said Jonathan, "to carry the two bodies down to
the wharf. Having inveigled me there--where, I suppose, he
thought no one could interfere--he assaulted me, and endeavored
to take the ivory ball away from me. In my efforts to escape we
both fell into the water, and he, striking his head upon the edge
of the wharf, was first stunned and then drowned."
"Thank God!" cried the lady, with a transport of fervor, and
clasping her jewelled hands together. "At last I am free of those
who have heretofore persecuted me and threatened my very life
itself! You have asked to behold my face; I will now show it to
you! Heretofore I have been obliged to keep it concealed lest,
recognizing me, my enemies should have slain me.
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