I gritted my teeth, and vowed to endure and live, that I might overturn heaven and earth to accomplish the shame and destruction of Britain. My glaring eyes looked out past the mast upon the sailors before me with such murderous rage that one by one they edged back and around beyond reach of my vision. The count had now passed the eighties--it was at ninety. Only ten more strokes! But despite my rage, a deathly sickness was fast creeping upon me. I could no longer hold up my head. Try as I might, it sank lower and lower, until my chin was upon my quivering breast. "Ninety-five!" The words came faint, from an immeasurable distance. I was again about to swoon. Suddenly I heard a cry of anguish such as I trust never to hear again. It was the voice of my lady! I looked up. She was darting toward me, her beautiful hair flying wildly in the breeze, the rosary in her outstretched hand. "Ninety-six!" Again the lash fell. "Ninety-seven!" But now she was beside me--she had flung herself between me and the descending lash. I heard the sailors cry out. The executioner whisked his lash aside by so narrow a margin that the tip of one of the thongs left a crimson weal across her white forehead. "God!" cried the officer. There was a moment's breathless pause. Then he called harshly, "Mademoiselle, stand aside. There are yet three strokes." "Strike if you dare!" she cried. "I am here to defend him! Strike me!" "Mademoiselle, I would not force you away. But if I send for Captain Powers--" "Send!" she cried. "_Poder de Dios!_ This gentleman is my betrothed husband!" There was a gleam above my head, and the blade of a little dagger slashed through the lashings which bound my wrists to the mast. I attempted to turn, but tottered, and my knees bent and doubled beneath me. I should have fallen headlong had she not eased me to the deck with her arm across my naked, sweaty, blood-streaked breast. She knelt beside me, and drew my head against her knee. Then all again became black. CHAPTER XXXVI ACROSS THE GULF This time, lacking the flood of sea-water, my swoon lasted much longer. I recovered to find myself in the great cabin, lying upon a luxurious berth, close to a stern window. Already my back had been covered with a soothing, cooling balm and wrapped about with bandages. I sought to turn upon my side, that I might look around. At once gentle hands lent their aid to my support. "He revives!" exclaimed my lady. "'T was best to dress the wound before applying restoratives," chirruped Dr. Cuthbert. But now I was fairly on my side, and could see the dear form of my lady. "Alisanda!" I murmured. "Juan!" she responded, kneeling and pressing her lips to mine regardless of the doctor's presence. "My Juan! I am here, my beloved. I am with you!" I caught sight of the weal of the lash across her forehead, and I quivered with fury. "That!" I muttered--"that mark upon your forehead! They struck you?"