took a turn or two across the floor,
keeping his eye vigilantly on his fellow guard, who, having seated
himself in the window-sill, had dozed off to sleep, the cigarette still
drooping from the corner of his mouth. Yes, he was certainly asleep.

He held out his hand to Etienne, who readily gave him the last he had
rolled. The sentry thanked him with a quick martial salute, and after a
turn or two more, deftly dropped the crumbled tobacco upon the floor and
let the leaf drop on Rollo's knees with a stump of pencil rolled up in
it.

Then the young man, turning his back upon the dozing guard in the stone
window-sill, wrote with some difficulty the following note, lying on his
breast and using the uneven floor of the granary for a desk.

"Little Concha" (it ran), "we are General Cabrera's prisoners.
Bring the papers as soon as you receive this. Otherwise we are
to be shot at day-break.--ROLLO BLAIR."

There was still a little space left upon the leaf of Alcoy paper, and
with a half shamefaced glance at El Sarria, he added, "_And in any case
do not wholly forget R. B._"

He passed the note to the outlaw, who folded it to the size of a postage
stamp and apparently gave directions where and to whom it was to be
delivered.

"In half an hour we shall be relieved and I will go," said the Carlist
ex-Miguelete, and resumed his steady tramp. Presently he awoke his
comrade so that he might not be found asleep at the change of guard.

* * * * *

There was nothing more to be done till day-break. They had played their
last card, and now they must wait to see what cards were out against
them, and who should win the final trick at the hour of sunrise.

Rollo fell asleep again. And so soundly this time, that he only woke to
consciousness when a soldier in a white _boina_ pulled roughly at his
elbow, and ordered him to get up.

All about the granary the Carlists were stamping feet, pulling on boots,
and flapping arms.

"It's a cold morning to be shot in," said the man, with rough
kindliness; "but I will get you some hot chocolate in a moment. That
will warm your blood for you, and in any case you will have a quick
passage. I will pick you a firing party of the best shots in the three
provinces. The general will be here in a quarter of an hour, and the sun
will rise in another quarter. One is just as punctual as the other. A
cigarette?--thank you. Well, you are a cool hand! I'm off