an Fernando."

"Ha! Senor, you--you--"

Hitt threw him a look of caution, and shook his head. Then, motioning
him to follow, he led him out and down through the winding, tortuous
thoroughfares. On the summit of the walls were sentinels, posted at
frequent intervals; and no civilian might walk upon the great
enclosure until peace had been formally declared.

Hailing a passing carriage, Hitt urged the wondering Don Jorge into
it, and bade the driver convey them to the old ruin of San Felipe, and
leave them. There they climbed the broken incline into the battered
fortress, and seated themselves in the shadow of a crumbling parapet.
They were alone on the enormous, grass-grown pile. From their position
they commanded a wonderful view across the town and harbor, and far
out over the green waters of the Caribbean. The _Cossack_ lay asleep
in the quiet harbor. Don Jorge saw it, and wondered whence it came.

"Listen, _amigo_," began Hitt, pointing to the yacht. "In that boat is
a girl, whose dearest earthly treasure is the condemned prisoner out
there in San Fernando. That girl is the little Carmen, foster-daughter
of old Rosendo."

"_Hombre!_" cried Don Jorge, staring at Hitt as if he suspected his
sanity.

"It is true, friend, for I myself came with her in that boat."

"_Caramba!_"

"And," continued Hitt, glancing again about the ruined fortress and
lowering his voice, "we have come for Jose de Rincon."

"_Santa Virgen!_ Are you _loco_?"

Hitt smiled. "And now," he went on eagerly, "how are we to get him?"

"But, _amigo_! San Fernando is closely guarded! And he--_por
supuesto_, he will be in the dungeons!"

"No doubt," returned Hitt dryly, "if your excellent friend Wenceslas
has had anything to do with it. But dungeons have windows, eh?"

"_Caramba_, yes; and San Fernando's are just above the water's edge.
And when the waves are high the sea pours into them!"

"And--could we learn which window is his, do you think?"

"Senor, I know," replied the man.

"Ha! And--"

"I learned from one of the soldiers, Fernando, who once lived in
Simiti. I had thought, senor, that--that perhaps I--"

"That perhaps you might make the attempt yourself, eh?" put in Hitt
eagerly.

Don Jorge nodded. Hitt sprang to his feet and looked out toward the
silent fortress.

"Don Jorge, it is dark out over the harbor at night, eh? No
searchlights?"

"None, senor."

Hitt began to pace back and forth. Suddenly he stopped, and stoo