s
charge was made by five men and youths from the new region called by
themselves Kentucky and known here as Kaintock, but they brought little
proof to support it."

Francisco Alvarez moved his chair, and a look of relief came over his
face. The opening promised well. The expressions of Henry Ware and Oliver
Pollock did not change, and Bernardo Galvez continued:

"I could not hold an officer of Spain, one high in the service, upon such
charges, when they were without sufficient support, and hence, as these
five men and boys had committed acts of violence upon Spanish soil and
against Spanish subjects, I sent them to a military prison, pending
further disclosures if there should be any, and I have held Don Francisco
Alvarez in New Orleans in order that he might clear his good name of these
charges and of certain talk that has been afloat concerning him."

Alvarez stirred again and his expression changed slightly. The
continuation was not quite as good as the beginning. Did he not detect a
slight undertone of irony or satire in the voice of Bernardo Galvez? But
neither Henry Ware nor Oliver Pollock moved a particle. The four looked
curiously from one to another of the actors in this tense scene.

"It was my object," resumed Bernardo Galvez, and now his tone had a
curious hard quality like steel, "to find the truth. Only in that way
could justice be done. Now I have to say that proof of these charges, not
conclusive, but incriminating nevertheless, has been found, and is in my
possession."

Alvarez leaped from his chair. He felt as if he had received a blow of a
hammer on his temple, but he cried out:

"It is not true! there can be no such proof!"

"It is true," said Bernardo Galvez sternly and accusingly, "because I hold
this evidence here in my hand. The war-maps which you are charged with
having, drawn by the one Wyatt, the friend of the Indians, and annotated
in your hand, are here."

He opened his palm and laid the strips of deerskin upon the table. Alvarez
staggered back and looked savagely at Braxton Wyatt.

"It is true," stammered the renegade in a whisper. "I was set upon last
night by Ware! He took me by surprise and robbed me of them! I could not
help it, but I was afraid to tell you then."

"I knew that Henry would find a way! I knew it!" Paul was murmuring to
himself.

"What of these maps, Don Francisco Alvarez?" said the Governor General.

The bold and flexible Spaniard quickly recovered himself