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Then Craig Beckett and his crew returned Eli Smith must not have known that Bartholomew had sailed with Beckett that day, because he was in the bar, boasting of his prowess at sea and saying as how he’d have taken on the pirate Bartholouns on his own sloop, when Craig Beckett strode into the room

Beckett was incensed

"Liar! You are the worst,bastard of a bloody liar," Beckett said "Bartholomew Miller could not have committed the crime as you say, and I knoell, for Bartholomew Miller ith me when the crime took place"

"No, that’s not true," Eli Smith cried out, but he was so taken by surprise that his words tumbled out oddly Then he found his voice "No, no, this is not true You--defend hied by the neck, and dead as a pirate should be dead"

Craig Beckett stood straight and slowly smiled a smile that was not a sood men of this town Honest men, who know that you killed the people aboard the Annabelle Lee, you killed Victoria Wyeth because you could not have her--she truly loved another And you brought about the execution of a good man who caused no ill to any other in a heinous ht--you will be condeht wildly He screaht between the two burly ed, for he fell limp between his attackers--and continued to scream and cry and protest

Bartholomeith Victoria’s hand in his, followed

Eli Siven a trial But he had no witnesses in his defense--his creere rounded up by the squadron and brought in for trial, as well Desperate to save their own lives, his own lad to see that even the justice of Co cook’s helper charged with ned their captain, would not be spared the rope

The trial caoodin defense of Bartholomew

The time and date for the execution were set, and it ca tree

The iven his chance to speak

Craig Beckett was there, and Eli Smith pointed at him "I curse you, Beckett! I curse you, and all your heirs! Time will come and time will tell, and by all that is holy and unholy, I swear that you will know the pain I suffer now! I curse you I curse you I curse you! May all the demons of hell curse you and all your issue, and their issue, until ti him "It is you who are cursed,woht about the death of an innocent hs on your soul, for he died of the pain you caused You, sir, will rot in hell"

"I punished those who sinned! I did no more!" Eli Smith called out "You are cursed, sir! Whatever time it may take, I will see that you and yours rot in hell! Cursed--"

The hangman had tired of the tirade

He kicked out the platform upon which the condemned man stood, and Eli Smith’s words were cut off cleanly

Bartholoainst the tree, and he heard the sound of the deadto and fro, to and fro

Then, they saw Eli S body He stared at hi Beckett--and da hi his hand

He pointed at Bartholomew "Bastard, you both deserved to die!" he shouted out

Bartholo that he was not about to spend eternity roa the streets of Key West with this round None of the living saw it, but Victoria did, as did Eli Srasped Victoria’s hand, and pulled her back, and they saw a dark, oozing blackness arise out of the ground It was like a sea of swirling, spiraling tar, thick and viscous It rose as if it sought to find a for--or soht

It started toward Eli Sed in terror "No!"

He tried to run froers and aran to screa He cried out horribly, as if the black ooze were a burning tar, and it seeinto the floor, along with the ghost of Eli S, ent about the business of cutting down the body, unaware of the drama that had taken place in another sphere of existence