nt, until they stopped at some thick
curtains, overhanging a door. These were drawn aside, the door
behind them was opened, other curtains hanging on the inside were
separated, and they entered a large apartment, lighted artificially
by lamps from above.

At a table at the end of the room were seated three men, also in
black. They were writing, and for some time did not look up from
their work. The attendants stood motionless by the side of the
lads; who, in spite of their courage, could not but shudder at the
grim silence of this secret tribunal.

At last the chief inquisitor laid down his pen and, lifting his
eyes towards them, said:

"Your names are Edward Hearne and Thomas Tressilis. You are English
sailors who, having crossed from the other side of the continent,
made your way to Arica; where you did, as I am told, a brave
action, in saving the lives of some Spanish sailors."

Tom assented gravely to the address.

"You are accused," the inquisitor went on, "of being steeped in the
errors of heresy; and of refusing to listen to the ministrations of
the holy father, who tried to instruct you in the doctrines of the
true church. What have you to say to this?"

"It is true, sir," Ned said, "every word. We were born Protestants,
and were brought up in that church. Had we been born in Spain we
should, no doubt, have been true members of your church. But it is
hard that men, once ingrained in a faith, should change it for
another. It were like asking a tiger to become a leopard. We are
unlearned men, and in no way skilled in the exercises of theology.
We accepted what we were taught, and would fain die in the same
belief. Doubtless your priests could give us arguments which we
should be unable to refute, whatever might be done by learned men
of our church; and we would pray you to suffer us to hold to the
creed in which we have been reared."

"It is impossible," the inquisitor said, "that we should permit you
to go on, straightway, in the way of damnation. Your bodies are as
nothing to the welfare of your souls; and to save the one it were,
indeed, for your good that the other were tormented. We will not,
however, press you now to recant your errors. You shall be attended
by a minister of the true religion, who will point out to you the
error of your courses; and in three days we shall expect an answer
from you. If you embrace the faith of the Holy Church you may, if
you choose to remain here, rise to posts of h