rage up; they even quizzed the engineers, the stokers, the
cooks, the multitude of men and passengers. No clew could alter the sad
deduction which they had drawn.

"Well, Captain," said the detective in charge of the case, "it's a sad
affair. But he's better off. We'll take this letter to headquarters,
sir, with your written report of the circumstances. What will be done
about the negro servant?"

The captain shook his head.

"Poor fellow, he is heartbroken. The Princess has very kindly offered
to take him into her service. The letter asked that all the baggage,
clothes, and personal property in the stateroom be given as a farewell
gift to the faithful fellow. If you have no objection I will let him
take the luggage along, when he leaves the ship with the party of her
Highness."

And that is how it was, that evening, that out through the dismal
drizzle of an interminably long day Rusty Snow marched down the dock,
carrying Warren Jarvis' luggage and two satchels of the Princess of
Aragon--another loyal retainer in her service.

It was a curious ending to an unusual voyage.

And Carlos, Duke of Alva, breathed a sigh of relief as he passed the
last dock policeman, to assist his cousin into a waiting taxicab. They
were to take the night train for London.

XII

WELCOME TO SEGURO!

The Princess and her party were delayed in Liverpool by the queries of
the authorities just long enough to make them miss connections with the
boat train at London. The trip had been carefully planned; this one
provoking delay cost them another close connection at the station in
Paris.

"Confound it," declared the Duke of Alva; "after all this long trip it
seems to take us longer still to get back to Seguro. Maledictions on
that miserable American pig. He brought bad luck from start to finish."

His cousin's face had not its usual color, but now a rosy tint flushed
up for a moment as she answered sharply.

"I will not permit you to speak so of the man who at least volunteered
to risk his life for me and for my brother. He proved himself more the
gentleman, Carlos, than you--with all the boasted advantage which we
believe accompanies a title."

The Duke was silent, morose and uncertain himself, for the remainder of
the tiresome ride.

Rusty was humble as ever, but there was an expectant look in his rotund
face. He inquired many times as to the exact time for the arrival of
the train at San Fernandez, the nearest railroad s