e were hard to
bear.

"On the other hand," continued the Governor General, still weighing his
words, "the actions of Don Francisco have not been beyond rebuke. He seems
to have regarded those from Kaintock as the prisoners of himself and not
of Spain. He made no report of these matters to me, his superior officer,
and he has lingered at his place of Beaulieu as if he were subject to no
orders save those of his own will."

Alvarez again flushed and raised his hand in protest, but Bernardo Galvez
went on, disregarding him:

"Because these offenses give some color to the charges against him, it is
my order that he be relieved for the present of his command, and that he
do not depart, under any circumstance, from the City of New Orleans until
he receive further instructions."

Alvarez, sprang up in anger, but a commanding gesture from the Governor
General waved him down in silence.

"I do not wish to hear any protests, Don Francisco," he said, "but I do
intend to look further into these matters."

"If we have not won, neither has the Spaniard," whispered Henry in Paul's
ear.

Oliver Pollock glanced out of the big window and the turning of his head
hid the twinkle in his eye. Yes, these were very delicate matters, and two
great nations and another that hoped to be great, too, were involved, but
one might make progress nevertheless.

Bernardo Galvez spoke to his secretary, who left the room, but returned in
a few minutes with no less a personage than Lieutenant Diego Bernal,
mincing, scrupulously dressed, but very alert of eye.

"You will take six soldiers," said the Governor General to him, "and
escort these five to the fortress. Treat them well, but hold them until
further orders."

Oliver Pollock gave a nod to Henry. It said plainly, "go without protest."
Henry and his comrades rose and followed Lieutenant Bernal from the
Governor General's house. Thence they went to one of the forts in the wall
that surrounded the town.

CHAPTER XVI

IN PRISON

Their fortress prison was built of brick, but it was not a particularly
somber place. They were all put in one large room which had two windows
barred with iron; but plenty of air came in at the windows, and the place,
though bare, was clean.

"Well," said Lieutenant Bernal, when they were inside, "tell me all that
occurred before Bernardo Galvez."

Paul was again the spokesman telling everything that was said as literally
as he could.

"I have an imp