sappeared, I turned to the

let us attend to the nee

t my face with a puzzled expression. Then a half gleam of

y Crawford who vanished so

hall have time for a talk presently; let us do what we can f

will fetch some. Put some more wood on t

ur best for all the sufferers, gave them water to drink, arranged them comfortably on beds of straw, and bathed and bandaged their wounds

refer to call it. The provisions are homely, and I am an indifferent cook, but I can at least

in wonder at the piles of Indian corn, the heaps of potatoes,

t of plenty. What shall we have? Roast potatoes and jer

I was when we crept in here after the affair at Mirabe

Miller, and a very fine fellow

us cook the potatoes. Bring another handful; I daresay

is brea

supper before you paid us so unceremoni

d, "you must ask the colonel

dislike the way in which you introduced yourself. Cut

" I asked, in

le brigands know ho

rateful for the food we took them. Then we returned to the fi

been a chapter lifted bodily from one of my favourite story-books

my parole," exclaimed the major tho

" I a

to escape," he replied, l

er carries a pistol,"

ging his shoulders. "No, no, my boy

ficient one,

; my father taught me that. And yet-and yet, do you know, Crawford," he added,

ecially as my pistol was really empty. I had not dreamed of takin

d; there could be no treachery hidden

tiago," I said cheerfully. "A man's word is h

must confess the major's wild talk nearly destroyed my appetite. His manner had changed so suddenly and abruptly that I knew not what to

nting to his food, "you pay y

ply, but looking up a

d almost forgotten, but I

we cannot go before

ot try to thwart me; I should be sorry if you got hurt. Si

was flushed, his eyes shone wildly; he

e king at naught? Shall I bring disgrace on a family that has stood by the throne for untold centuries? My father died on the battlefield with the king's ba

and when they were done he leaped to his feet with an angry cry.

ontinued. "I care nothing for myse

of friends," I remarked dryly, "to

a desperate remedy. I thought at first he would kill me. His eyes blazed fiercely, and he

wfully sorry for the young major, and almost wished he had not passed his word to José. Hav

tiago had covered his face with his hands, and was rocking himself gently to and fro, like a child in pa

eaking no word, then looking me str

ke a madman, but there is

ave gone a hundred yards. Come, let us now dismiss th

and as soon as we arrive at Moquegua I will withdraw my parole. Then if a chance to escape

d I? there is

m master of myself now,"

erved, after a pause. "Now that you have rou

xpectation of hearing any particular information. It was unlikely, I considered, that Sant

ness, yet it is only right that you should know. Of course, you will understan

uckling at the remembrance. "I have often laugh

vowing vengeance against everybody. Search-parties scoured the neighbourhood in all directions,

g conclusion,

confusion Barejo turned up on his way back to Lima. He was simply furious, and threa

me a very hig

gine the general was afraid

isappointed, "that alters the case. Bu

wished to keep yo

e sadly mis

it seems to be something in this way. When we have crushed this rebellion, t

s!" I laughed; "an ol

s estates will be among them. Now, as far as I can gather, Barejo thought that by

interest in my affairs. But isn't it possible, major, that you are going a trif

ssed his hea

sible!" he answered, w

se it, just for a

ich there is no possible likelihood,

omething in his face held my attention, an

is it? Tell me quic

only tell you he was not slain that day in the mountains. He was danger

id they

does Barejo. Perhaps, and in my opini

ther alive! I could hardly credit the statement. What would my mother say? How would she receive the

. After all, his information only reopened the old wounds. More than two years had passed since my father's disappe

know the truth. A man can't be shut

the major. "As soon as I escape f

will be a long time to w

r Miller will be too busy running away to look after priso

ght returned to his eyes, the smile to his face, and he

and fears aside for the present. Our wounde

to wonder whether my father was alive or dead. That was the one

with the exception of one who was dying f

g to the entrance. "Yes, there he

ago banteringly. "Give th

now how to fight. Help me to

the noose he is to hang in. You forget that

Still, as La Hera returns so soon, it will be only a temporary

ago l

at imprisonment is a privilege

"but, as Barejo said, it k

the two soldiers climbed to the cave, and the doctor followed unsteadily. It was evident that this novel method of visiting pati

nt errand. So great was his agitation that when he had planted his feet firm

away from the mouth of the cave. "Rather a q

ets, "this is horrible. A dozen times, coming up that rope, I wished I'd neve

ose eyes gleamed with fun; "such grace, such agility, is given to few.

ago to me, hardly knowing wh

I hope there is an easier way of

You have but to step outside the cave, and there you a

ctor g

"never! I shall be shut up in th

o pleasantly: "your patients will always be able to fin

long; the others are getting on nicely. You will find this cavern quite a comfortable dwelling-plac

e good folks of Moquegua to make a nice long la

to watch the doctor's face as

s a clear case of suicide. Look, he has misse

think about it. See, it is nothing but going down a flight of ste

ched the ground, I gra

mfortable time. And don't worry about coming

shall never see you or any one else a

ise some plan to rescue him; on which he brightened up considerably, a

he replied, "on the oth

would not cross the narrow track, and that they had, in cons

en we reached the spot. "This is a far worse v

ding out pitilessly clear, and every chasm yawning wide,

on the narrow path with a jaunty air but quaking heart. Santiago smiled too, but I fancy he was by no means sorry when we gained the farther side without accident. Then we jested about th