f these were still growing upon his head!"

"You cut that hair," said Ned with a vicious snap of his teeth, "and cut
it close, so close that it will look like the shaven face of a man. I
think you will find it so stated in the conditions if you will look at
the permit approved in his own handwriting by Colonel Sandoval y
Dominguez."

Joaquin Menendez, still the artist, but obedient to the law, heaved a
deep sigh, and proceeded with his sad task. Lock by lock the abundant
hair fell, until Ned's head stood forth in the shaven likeness of a
man's face that he had wished.

"I must tell you," said Mr. Austin, "that it does not become you, but I
hope you are satisfied."

"I am satisfied," replied Ned. "I have every cause to be. I know I shall
have a stronger appetite to-morrow."

"You are certainly a sensitive boy," said Mr. Austin, looking at him in
some wonder. "I did not know that such a thing could influence your
feelings and your physical condition so much."

Ned made no reply, but that night he ate supper with a much better
appetite than he had shown in many days, bringing words of warm approval
and encouragement from Mr. Austin.

An hour or two later, when cheerful good-nights had been exchanged, Ned
withdrew to his own little room. He lay down upon his bed, but he was
fully clothed and he had no intention of sleep. Instead the boy was
transformed. For days he had been walking with a weak and lagging gait.
Fever was in his veins. Sometimes he became dizzy, and the walls and
floors of the prison swam before him. But now the spirit had taken
command of the thin body. Weakness and dizziness were gone. Every vein
was infused with strength. Hope was in command, and he no longer doubted
that he would succeed.

He rose from the bed and went to the window. The city was silent and the
night was dark. Floating clouds hid the moon and stars. The ranges and
the city roofs themselves had sunk into the dusk. It seemed to him that
all things favored the bold and persevering. And he had been
persevering. No one would ever know how he had suffered, what terrific
pangs had assailed him. He could not see now how he had done it, and he
was quite sure that he could never go through such an ordeal again. The
rack would be almost as welcome.

Ned did not know it, but a deep red flush had come into each pale cheek.
He removed most of his clothes, and put his head forward between the
iron bar and the window sill. The head went throu