rily, made joking remarks, and behaved generally as if the prospect of a spell of prison life was most agreeable. This was,

when José suddenly appeared, coming from the governor's house. On seeing us, he appro

he doctor would not take the nearest way, an

little jaunt of ninety miles or so to intercept a Spanish column. Th

ago; "but the others will soon be all

o choice. He was the only one in the place availab

llow was half dead with fright when he reached us, and v

nd lowered like a sack of potatoes. M

n I can make is tha

José thoughtfully. "He is Colonel Miller's representat

've done with paroles! From this mome

dle. Of course," he added, "it will change the position a little. We can still remain on frie

and found ourselves in the governor's presence. He was a military-looking man, though holding no rank in the army-a Spaniar

a proposal that the prisoner should be left

u. I am not without the power to make you an offer. The Spanish cause is lost; in a few months your armies will be crushed; Peru will be independent. Until that time you will languish miserably in prison. Afterwards I cannot pretend to prophesy your

the first appear mild. His eyes literally blazed with anger; his face was red; he actually quivered with passion. Twice he endea

rs? Do you imagine I am a rat like you to leave a sinking ship? What! lend my sword to a parcel of

's face, but he recovered himself promptly, a

ally; and turning to an officer, he added, "Rincona, bring in y

that, se?or. This man is my prisoner, for whom I am responsible to Colonel Miller al

ernor's second command he left the room, while

d it, saying coolly, "The man wh

but I cannot let you suffer on my behalf. Besides, there is Crawford to be co

he major's words had made an impression, and a shad

rd the tramp, tramp of marching feet, and presently

rnor, beside himself with pa

r them, sir," r

lf the trouble," remarked Jos

at does it matter? Better so than t

him now. The situation was decidedly unpleasant, and unfortunately there seemed to be no way

s obeying orders went. The officers were restless and uneasy, and one of them kept up a whispere

of heavy irons, and once again Santiago tur

vernor, sheltering behind his officers, cri

aising his pistol, and spea

iers were all Indians, and judging by their appearance, Indians of the mountains. Was it possible that any of them ac

ift. At first no one took any notice; but when I held the key to view, the Indians raised a sh

mblem of authority which hung from my neck. The governor stood like a man in a dream; the office

ers of the Silver Key, and

master!"

hose o

" they aga

ust you t

aster!" they cri

aise my hand, and you will feel the weight of your own irons. But there is no need to quarrel. Colonel

colonel returned he would have us all shot. However, as it was evident that the sold

e major, "the room was hot! A

think so. At any rate,

our lives," obs

upon a time it unlocked the door of a prison c

and their chief has more power in Peru t

ow him,

grateful, though I could never like the man. But here we are at the

about my father, but first of all we had to come to an understanding with Santiago. This time he made n

é; "we may as well be comfortable

mfortably together!" laughed the ma

and will do what is right. It is Crawford who

aven't told you that Major Mar

interrupted Santiago. "That ou

Jack has often talked about! Well, I'm glad

your precious doctor," I continued, "he

" sai

my fa

Crawford, major? Don Eduardo came to his end by foul means: he was not s

on, he was not slain at all," I sai

questions. Like myself, he displayed great excitement, but I judged from hi

ies both in public and private life; and as we all know, any stick is

hesitated; "the king's party put h

d I say some of them killed him under cloak of the government. And some day," he added, "I will prove it. As to his

hope, "he was not killed in the mount

them made any impression. At the best, he said, my father had been thrown into p

the casemates at Cal

ealthy places they are. But there a

es, as José said, many events had happened during the last two years, and my father was by no means the only noted man in Peru to disappear. So our ta

rmation concerning the governor's doings. Everything seemed quiet; the sentries w

degree. Recognizing a sergeant who had been in the governor's room, I stopped to ask a few questions. Greatly to my relie

matters stood, and that we depended entirely upon him

te clear that the friend of Raymon Sorillo and the holder of the Silver

ago laughed heartily, prophesying that, if the Spaniards were defea

were so important a person. No wonde

ernor attempted nothing against us, and the next day

ing an Indian scout rode wearily into the town with the news that the Englishman was close at hand.

er, he rode at the head of his troops, smiling and bowing to the inhabitants as they greeted him with rousing cheers. The

oodshot; some were nearly asleep, others had scarcely strength to sit upright. Very little grass had grown under their feet. As soon

turn with him; but at the last moment he turned aside, and with a laughi

cried he. "So you d

d a major, and I wish to

he asked, with a

truth is, we've had a quarr

ery good plan. Well, fire away, but don't m

face, and when I had finished he said, "It's an awkward mess, especially just now. It's absolutely necessary to keep friends with the governor, and I don't like this tamp

I, thankful to ge

I returned with José and the major, but he rose f

r your parole, major," he said. "Your

, graceful way. "An opportunity to escape may not

g you rigidly, we shall put you to as little inconvenience as possible. You will find half a dozen

id, "I am obliged to you, colonel, for your kindn

"I have had a taste of Spanish prison life already, maj

file of soldiers, and Santiago t

I will inquire further into your father's story.-Ah, here is my escort!" and with a salute to the colonel a

e liked to set him free," I said, a

but it's better for us that he should be under lock and key. And th

led it tampering

hall be rather pleased when we leave this district; t

us now the co

a nasty accident. Perhaps you remember my remark, made two years

oquegua. Many of the troops were down with the ague, the place was a difficult one to defend, unless against a weak attack,