penter's maul, which I
quickly found. I was now ready for what I fondly hoped would prove to
be the last act in our little drama, and was about to give the word to
march, when Fonseca, who appeared to have been speaking to Jose, stayed
me.

"Senor Grenvile," he said, "I have just been exchanging a few remarks
with our friend Jose here, who has made certain representations to me
that I think demand your consideration. He quite understands, of
course, that we are about to attempt to escape, and he fully recognises
that he has no power to prevent us. But he contends that if we go off
and leave him here, Dominique will certainly torture him to death as a
punishment for permitting himself to be taken by surprise; and from what
I know of Dominique, I am afraid poor Jose has only too good reason for
his apprehension. That being the case, he implores us to take him with
us, even if we afterward deliver him up to the authorities, since he
would infinitely rather be hanged than remain here at the mercy of
Dominique. What say you, senor; do you feel inclined to accede to his
request?"

I looked at Jose. The poor wretch was evidently in a paroxysm of
terror, and was muttering eagerly behind his gag, while he gazed up at
me with eyes that were eloquent with pleading.

"Take the gag out of his mouth," said I, "and let me hear what he has to
say. But upon the first attempt to raise his voice, brain him with the
belaying-pin. We must have no trifling now."

Fonseca at once removed the gag, and Jose instantly burst forth with a
perfect torrent of prayers for mercy, intermingled with the most earnest
and graphic representations of what would happen to him if left behind.

"I would take you with us willingly, Jose," I said, "if I could be
assured that you would be faithful to us; but--"

"Oh, senor, do not doubt me, I implore you! Take me with you, senor;
and if you feel that you cannot trust me, put me in irons when we get on
board. But I swear to you, senor, that I will indeed be faithful to
you. Take me, senor, and try me!"

"Very well," I said, "I will. But you must not expect me to trust you
too much at first. Therefore, Fonseca, put the gag back into his mouth,
for the moment, and then cast his feet adrift, so that he can walk down
to the boats instead of being carried. And while you are doing that, I
will take a final look outside, and attend to a certain little matter
before we leave." And, so saying, I pick