Otter guarding
their rear with his sabre. Before they had gone ten yards, however,
Pereira waddled towards them after a hasty consultation with one of his
captains.

"Seize that man," he shouted; "he has killed the worthy Dom Xavier:
having first insulted him, he has slain him by violence, and he must
answer for it."

A dozen ruffians sprang forward at his bidding, only to be met by the
sabre and pistol of Otter, with neither of which were they anxious
to make a closer acquaintance. Leonard saw that the position was very
grave, and a thought came into his mind. "You wish to escape from this
place, Father?" he said rapidly to the priest.

"Yes," answered Francisco, "it is a hell."

"Then lead me as swiftly as you may to that bridge; I am hurt and weak,
but there is succour beyond."

As he spoke the drawbridge, which was not ten yards away, fell with a
crash.

"Run across, Juanna Rodd," cried Leonard in English.

She hesitated, then obeyed. It seemed to Leonard that the look upon her
face said, "How can I leave you?"

"Now, Father," said Leonard, "make a rush for it," and leaning on the
priest's shoulder he stumbled towards the bridge. But he would never
have reached it had it not been for Otter.

"Treason!" roared Pereira; "stop him! Who let down the bridge?"

A man came on the attack; it was the same young captain that Leonard
had offered to fight before the auction. In his hand was a knife already
uplifted to fall on Leonard's back when Otter's sabre flashed and the
man went down.

"Seize the bridge and hold it," roared Pereira again.

"Wind up! wind up!" yelled Otter in answer, as with sabre and pistol he
held back the mob.

Those on the further side obeyed with such a will that Leonard and the
priest rolled down the slanting planks.

"Otter!" cried Leonard--"good God! he will be killed!"

By way of answer Otter fired the last barrel of his pistol. Then with
a yell, before his foes could close upon him he sprang like a wild cat
straight at the iron chains of the bridge, which were used to secure
it in its place when needful. At the moment they hung four feet or more
above his head, but he grasped them and shouted to Soa to hoist away.

A man attempted to seize his legs, but Otter kicked him in the face
and he fell into the water. Next second he was out of their reach and
rapidly rising high into the air. Some threw knives and some fired
pistol-shots after him, but none of these touched him.

"A