could see
over the robber's shoulder, who now slightly turning his head, faced
towards him. Not a word was exchanged between the two, but from the
looks it was clear they were old acquaintances, Santander starting as he
recognised the other; while his glance betrayed a hostility strong and
fierce as that felt for either Florence Kearney or the Texan. A slight
exclamation, involuntary, but telling of anger, was all that passed his
lips as his eyes met a pair of other eyes which seemed to pierce his
very heart.

He stayed not for more; but turning upon his heel, made direct for the
door. Not to reach it, however, without interruption. In his hurry to
be gone, he stumbled over the legs of the Texan, that stretched across
the cell, nearly from side to side. Angered by the obstruction, he gave
them a spiteful kick, then passed on outward. By good fortune fast and
far out of reach, otherwise Cris Rock, who sprang to his feet, and on
for the entrance, jerking the dwarf after, would in all probability
there and then have taken his life.

As it was, the gaol-governor, seeing the danger, suddenly shut the
cloister door, so saving it.

"Jest as I've been tellin' ye all along, Cap," coolly remarked Rock, as
the slammed door ceased to make resonance; "we shed ha' hanged the
skunk, or shot him thar an' then on the Shell Road. 'Twar a foolish
thing lettin' him out o' that ditch when I had him in it. Darn the luck
o' my not drownin' him outright! We're like to sup sorrow for it now."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE EXILES RETURNED.

Of the _dramatis personae_ of our tale, already known to our reader,
Carlos Santander, Florence Kearney, and Cris Rock were not the only ones
who had shifted residence from the City of New Orleans to that of
Mexico. Within the months intervening two others had done the same--
these Don Ignacio Valverde and his daughter. The banished exile had not
only returned to his native land, but his property had been restored to
him, and himself reinstated in the favour of the Dictator.

More still, he had now higher rank than ever before; since he had been
appointed a Minister of State.

For the first upward step on this progressive ladder of prosperity Don
Ignacio owed all to Carlos Santander. The handsome _aide-de-camp_,
having the ear of his chief, found little difficulty in getting the ban
removed, with leave given the refugee--criminal only in a political
sense--to come back to his country.

T