ghts chanced
to twinkle through the leaves.

The Spaniard and Braxton Wyatt were sitting now upon the piazza drinking a
cool decoction of West Indian origin, and Alvarez was commenting upon what
he called his good fortune.

"All things favor us, Wyatt," he said. "No proof reaches the ears of
Bernardo Galvez and the galleon, Dona Isabel, will certainly arrive next
week from Spain. If I mistake not, she will bring news welcome to me and
unwelcome to Bernardo Galvez."

"If you become Governor General what will you do with the Kentuckians in
the fort?" asked Wyatt.

Alvarez laughed, and it was a very unpleasant laugh to hear.

"I do not know what I shall do with them," he said, "but I am sure of one
fact. They will never see Kaintock again. The powers of a Governor General
are very great."

Braxton Wyatt was satisfied with the answer. His wicked heart throbbed at
the thought that the five would never more roam their beloved forests. He,
too, looked forward to the arrival of the galleon, Dona Isabel, with
welcome news. He saw how useful he was to Alvarez, and if the Spaniard
rose, he must rise with him.

The two, after these few words, sat in silence, each occupied with his own
thoughts, which, however, were largely the same. Alvarez rose presently
and went into the house. If all things went as he wished, there were
certain letters that he would send to powerful friends in Spain, and now
was a good time to make rough drafts of them.

Braxton Wyatt remained on the piazza. It was wonderfully cool and pleasant
there, after the heat of the day. The wind blew musically among the orange
trees, and the air was spiced with pleasant odors. Braxton Wyatt's
thoughts were pleasant, too. He liked this luxurious southern life. Though
born to the forest, and a good woodsman, he had sybaritic tastes, which
needed only opportunity to bud and bloom.

Now, like the Arab who had the glass for sale, he was building his great
future. Alvarez would be Governor General of Louisiana, and he, Braxton
Wyatt, would be his trusted and necessary lieutenant. The five whom he
hated would be removed under the new rule from the military prison to
dungeons, where they would gradually be lost to the sight of man, never to
be heard of again. The Indians and the Spaniards with their cannon would
destroy the settlements in Kentucky, and he would become, if not the
first, at least the second man in His Most Catholic Majesty's huge
province of Louisiana.