nglish ship without my knowledge. I
went to him just now and demanded to know if he dared to send away Senor
Rivers without leave from me.

"'Aye,' he said, and bowed to me. 'Since Dona Orosia desired for some
reason to detain him here, I thought it best to be rid of him at once;
but the girl remains.'

"'The girl remains in my guardianship,' said I.

"'Until to-morrow,' Melinza answered. 'To-morrow the _Virgen de la Mar_
returns to Habana, and with her go the English girl and your humble
servant.'

"'The Governor,' I cried, 'will not permit it!'

"'Will he not? Ask him,' said Melinza, 'ask his Excellency the Governor
of San Augustin!' Then he laughed at me--_Dios!_ he laughed at me!"

She bit her red lip at the remembrance, and clenched her white hands.

"And did you ask the Governor, senora?"

She nodded fiercely. "The old dotard! He did but shrug his shoulders and
offer me a diamond necklace in exchange for my pretty puppet of a
plaything. It is plain Melinza has some hold upon him, what it is I
cannot guess; but it is stronger than my wishes. He would sooner brave
my anger than oppose his nephew's schemes."

I watched the dark shadow settling on her brow, and I thought all hope
was over.

"Dona Orosia," I said at last, "will you lend me your dagger?"

"Not yet, child--not unless there is no other way to thwart them both.
Look--" she said, and threw a purse of gold pieces on the bed beside me.
"This is your purchase money, and 'twill serve to buy assistance. When I
could make no better terms, I was forced to take this and a kiss to
boot--Pah!" and she rubbed her cheek. "To-morrow, when the tide is
full, the _Virgen de la Mar_ will leave the harbour. Before then I must
contrive your escape."

"And Barbara's," I added, for I could see the poor dame was in deep
anxiety.

Dona Orosia stared. "Upon my soul, we had all forgotten the old woman.
She might have gone well enough with the other prisoners; but how am I
to smuggle _two_ women from the town?"

Then I besought her not to separate me from the dame, to whom I clung as
my last friend; and after a time she yielded me a grudging promise and
left me, bidding me make ready for the evening meal, at which I must
appear in order not to arouse the Governor's suspicions.

My hands were cold and trembling; but with Barbara's aid I decked me out
in one of the gay gowns which had been given me by my protectress, and,
taking up a fan--with which I had learned th