And so between two men I passed up the great stairs and into the room which I had left last night; the star of the pirates had waned and set for aye, and the isle was now in the power of the English. Events had transpired quickly, but still I was a prisoner. The door closed, and I heard the key turn in the lock. Someone ran forward from the corner of the room--it was Oliver, his face radiant with delight. "It is thou!" he cried. "I had not thought to see thee again," and he almost embraced me in his joy. I put forward my rough hand and stroked his yellow curls, as though he were a babe and I his mother. "Ah, lad, we are still prisoners," I said mournfully. "Yes," he replied, "but we are both alive, and that is more than I had hoped for at one time. When the priest felled thee with the cup, I whipped out my sword and ran at him. He turned and fled out of the door with me at his heels; catching his foot on a stone, he tripped and fell. I was upon him before he could arise. Another moment--and it would all have been over. When lo! these men arose from the ground around us, where they had been lying, and overpowered me. Tying my hands, they took my sword away, and bringing me up to this room, guided by the priest, they unbound and left me. I did not know what had become of thee, and was almost mad with anxiety when thou, too, wert brought in." "What of DeNortier?" I asked. "He was not below when Drake took the hall." The lad grinned at me. "I left him on the floor, where thy buffet had sprawled him, for he was as though dead when I ran after the priest." "He must have recovered himself and escaped," I said. "He is as slippery and cunning as a fox, and doubtless he lies hidden in some of his secret caves about here." "What was the volley that I heard but a minute ago?" he asked. I seated myself upon a chair, and crossed my legs comfortably. "'Twas the death of the pirates. Drake sent them out and put an end to them in short order." "And then we will both be set free!" he cried. "Why do they keep us here?" "The fates fight against us," I answered. "The priest has sworn, and the men, bought by him, have corroborated his statement, that I was the ringleader of the pirates; that I slew Sir Samuel Morton, and I know not what else. To bear them out, it seems that the clothes I have on and the sword that I wore belonged to Morton. They all recognize them, and have persuaded Drake that I am guilty," and I arose and began to pace the floor. "Infamous!" the boy cried indignantly. "But I will tell them the truth," and he arose. "It is useless," I replied sadly. "The priest has told them that thou art a boon companion of mine, and they will believe naught that thou wouldst say. In truth it begins to look like the halter. I care not for myself, for I have run my race, but thou art young and thy life lies before thee. I would mourn should harm befall thee. It may be that Drake will free thee, and I will see what can be done."