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“But do you think it possible, as I have heard, that Morgan himself has three arms and wields a sword in each?”

“Who can say, my friend! The devil has even greater powers than these, surely. Who can tell the limit of the Power of Evil? It is sacrilegious to consider it.”

And later:

“You say you had it of Don Guierrmo? Surely he would not tell a questionable thing—a man of his wealth.”

“I repeat only what he said—that Morgan could fire bullets from his finger-tips—that he breathed out sulphurous flames. Don Guierrmo was certain of it.”

“I must tell my wife of this, Don Pedro.”

So the tales grew until the people were half mad. Stories of cruelty in other captured cities were recalled, and the merchants who had shrugged before, turned pale on remembering. They could not believe; and yet they must believe, for the pirates were already on their way to Chagres, and their stated purpose was the conquest and pillage of the Cup of Gold. At last, under pressure, Don Juan dragged himself from church long enough to send five hundred soldiers for an ambush on the road across the isthmus. A young officer craved audience.

“Well, young man,” the Governor began, “what is your wish?”

“If we had bulls, sir—if we had great numbers of wild bulls,” the officer cried excitedly.