escape. He did not doubt it even
now, when only one of the five was free in the woods out there. The spring
sun was setting in great clouds of red and gold fire, a pleasant coolness
was coming over the heated landscape, and every building, fence, and tree
was touched by a soft but vivid light.

Braxton led the way into the house and into a great room, where Francisco
Alvarez sat in a high chair, keeping state like a feudal lord. He waved
his hand and the soldiers withdrew. Then he said to Braxton Wyatt:

"I wish to speak alone, absolutely alone, to Senor Ware, and I must ask
you to leave us for a little while."

Braxton turned on his heel, his anger but half concealed, and the Spaniard
smiled to himself, Francisco Alvarez was a wily man, a reader of the minds
of others, and he did not object to the present displeasure of Wyatt.

But he said nothing until the renegade was gone. Henry, meanwhile, had
quietly taken his seat in a cane chair. He was not of any mind to stand in
the presence of this man who bore himself as if he were master of
everything by right divine.

Francisco Alvarez observed the act and understood its meaning. He smiled
again to himself. He had not misjudged the youth, and it confirmed him in
the plan that had come suddenly into his cunning mind.

"Senor Ware," he said, veiling his voice and speaking with a velvety
courtesy that was unusual in him, "I have brought you here to tell you
first that I repent my act to-day, by which I placed your comrade's life
in seeming danger. I was hasty, but I had been goaded greatly, and it may
be, too, that I was influenced by the sinister advice of one who hates you
and your friends in a manner almost beyond belief. Besides, the swordsman
had orders not to slay."

Henry Ware looked at him in great surprise. Five minutes ago he would not
have dreamed it possible that he could hear such a speech in such a tone
from Francisco Alvarez. He waited to see what it meant. Alvarez regarded
him in a sort of kindly contemplation, as a man would look upon a youth
for whom he had benevolent plans.

"We have been enemies so far," he resumed in his winning tone, "you and
your comrades against myself and my people. But I have learned one thing,
and I am confirmed in it by the opinion of others; boy as you are, you are
the strongest and most dangerous of the five who oppose me; you are the
leader."

The words, although true, were those of compliment and flattery, and Henry