approach mothers clasped their children closer to their
breast, and men crossed themselves, at the thought that their
passage boded death to some unhappy victim. For it must be
remembered that the Inquisition, framed at first only for the
discovery and punishment of heresy, later became an instrument of
private vengeance. Men denounced wives of whom they wished to be
rid, wives husbands; no relations of kin were sufficient to ensure
safety. The evidence, sometimes true, was more often manufactured
by malice and hate; until at last even the most earnest and sincere
Catholics trembled when they thought that, at any moment, they
might be denounced and flung into the dungeons of the Inquisition.

Brave as the lads were, they could not avoid a thrill of horror, at
the presence of the familiars of this dreaded body. They were,
however, cheered by the thought of the promises of the young
Spaniard, in whose honesty and honor they had great faith; and with
a few words of adieu to the governor, and thanks to him for what he
had done in their behalf, they followed the officers of the
Inquisition along the streets of Arica, and suffered themselves to
be placed on board the boat, which lay alongside the mole.

Although it was late in the evening, their passage was not
unobserved. Many of the soldiers recognized, in the two men
marching, surrounded by the black guard of the Inquisition, their
late comrades; and, confident in their numbers, these did not
hesitate to lift their voices, in loud protest, against this
seizure of men who had behaved so gallantly. In the darkness, too,
they feared not that their faces would be recognized, and their
curses and threats rose loud in the air.

People looking out from their doors, to hear the cause of the
uproar, were variously affected. Some joined in the movement of the
soldiers; but more shrank back with dread into their houses, rather
than be compromised with so dreaded a body.

The threats, however, did not proceed to open violence; and as the
young men, themselves, gave no sign of attempting an effort for
freedom, their comrades contented themselves with many shouts of
good wishes, mingled with curses upon their captors; and the lads
were embarked, without the alguazils having to use the swords which
they had drawn in readiness for the expected fray.

"You are witness, senor officer," Ned said, "that we came without
resistance; and that, had we chosen, we could, with the assistance