A smile played about his lips as the step drew nearer, the difference between it and that of Bart being more and more marked as he listened, and then quite closed his eyes, while the heavy curtain was drawn aside, and the buccaneer entered the chamber. He took a step or two forward, which placed him in front of the stone idol, and there he stood gazing down at the handsome, manly figure of his prisoner, whose unstudied attitude formed a picture in that weird, picturesque place, which made the captain's breath come and go a little more quickly, and a faint sensation of vertigo tempt him to turn and hurry away. The sensation was momentary. A frown puckered his brow, and he said quietly-- "Asleep?" "No," said Humphrey, opening his eyes slowly; "no, my good fellow. I was only thinking." The buccaneer frowned a little more heavily as he listened to his prisoner's cool, careless words, and felt the contemptuous tone in which he was addressed. "You sent for me," he said, harshly, and his voice sounded coarse and rough. "Well," said Humphrey, with insolent contempt, "how many ships have you plundered--how many throats have you cut this voyage?" The buccaneer's eyes seemed to flash as he took a step forward, and made an angry gesture. But he checked himself on the instant, and, with a faint smile, replied-- "Captain Armstrong is disposed to be merry. Why have you sent for me?" "Merry!" said Humphrey, still ignoring the question; "one need be, shut up in this tomb. Well, you are back again?" "Yes; I am back again," said the buccaneer, smoothing his brow, and declining to be angry with his prisoner for his insulting way as he still lay back on the couch. "It is but the pecking of a prisoned bird," he said to himself. "And not been caught and hanged yet? I was in hope that I had seen the last of you." "I have heard tell before of prisoners reviling their captors," said the buccaneer, quietly. "Revile! Well, is it not your portion!" "For treating you with the consideration due to a gentleman?" said the buccaneer, whose features grew more calm and whose eyes brightened as if from satisfaction at finding the prisoner so cool and daring, and in how little account he was held. "I have given orders that the prisoner should be treated well. Is there anything more I can do?" The harsh grating voice had grown soft, deep, rich, and mellow, while the dark, flashing eyes seemed to have become dreamy as they rested upon the prisoner's handsome, defiant face. "Yes," said Humphrey, bitterly; "give me my liberty." The buccaneer shook his head. "Curse you! No; you profess to serve me--to treat me well--and you keep me here barred up like some wild beast whom you have caged." "Barred--caged!" said the buccaneer, raising his eyebrows. "You have freedom to wander where you will." "Bah! freedom!" cried Humphrey, springing up. "Curse you! why don't I strangle you where you stand?"