r freedom on condition that you
renounce the Senorita Rostrevor and surrender her to me. Incidentally,
the senorita has promised she will marry me if you renounce her."

"I made the promise, Tony, because Don Car--er--I mean El Diablo
Cojuelo--boasted that you would surrender me to save yourself,"
interposed Myra hastily. "I knew nothing would induce you to give me
up, Tony. It isn't true, is it, that you agreed to go away with Don
Carlos and leave me here?"

"No, of course I didn't mean that, Myra," answered Tony, gulping as if
he had a lump in his throat. "Didn't I come here to ransom you?"

"If Don Carlos lied, and you still refuse to renounce the senorita
after you have been flogged and put to the torture, then I will set her
free and you also," Cojuelo said grimly. "That is a promise, and
Cojuelo never breaks a promise. Meanwhile I say again that you are
lying, and that Don Carlos told the Senorita Rostrevor the truth."

"Here, I say, Cojuelo, cut out this bluff about torture and all that
sort of nonsense," exclaimed Standish, with just a suspicion of
unsteadiness in his voice. "I tell you I am prepared to pay any sum
within reason as a ransom, and you won't get any more by threatening me
with physical violence. Look here, I'm willing to apologise for having
tried to shoot you, but you know you exasperated me by taunting me
about not valuing Miss Rostrevor."

"What a charming piece of condescension on your part!" sneered Cojuelo.
"If Don Carlos de Ruiz lied to the Senorita Rostrevor, I shall shoot
him. That is another promise, senorita. As for you, perhaps the lash
and the red hot iron on your flesh will induce you to speak truth as
well as test your courage!"

He turned to the door, outside which the man with the keys was standing.

"Mendoza, order Perez, Riafio and Garcilaso to get ready the whipping
post and make hot the branding irons at once," he commanded in Spanish,
then repeated the order in English for the benefit of Standish, whose
face went livid.

"Oh, surely you won't be so fiendishly cruel!" burst out Myra
passionately. "If you dare to harm Tony----"

"We will withdraw, senorita, and leave Senor Standish to nerve himself
for the ordeal that awaits him," interrupted Cojuelo, and hustled her
out of the cell before she could say more. "I swear I did not lie to
you, Myra," he resumed, as he clanged the door shut on the prisoner.
"I am bluffing now, and have no intention of flogging o