as forced to put to sea. Meanwhile, Cervantes and the fugitives
in the cave had to return disheartened into hiding, and await another
opportunity.

But once lost, the opportunity was gone for ever. Before any fresh
scheme could be concerted, El Dorador had betrayed the hiding place of
the Christians and their plan of escape to the cruel Dey or King Azan,
who saw in the information a means to satisfy his greed. According to
the law of the country, he was enabled to claim the escaped slaves as
his own property (except Cervantes, for whom he paid 500 crowns), and
with a company of armed men presented himself before the cave.

In this dreadful strait Cervantes' courage never faltered. He told the
trembling captives not to fear, as he would take upon himself the entire
responsibility of the plan. Then, addressing Azan's force, he proclaimed
himself the sole contriver of the scheme, and professed his willingness
to bear the punishment. The Turks were struck dumb at valour such as
this, in the presence of the most dreadful torments, and contented
themselves with ordering the captives into close confinement at the
bagnio, hanging the gardener, and bringing Cervantes bound to receive
his sentence from the Dey Azan himself.

The threats of impalement, torture, mutilation of every kind, which
Cervantes well knew to be no mere threats, had no effect upon his
faithful soul. He stuck to the story he had told, and the Dey, 'wearied
by so much constancy,' as the Spanish historian says, ended by loading
him with chains, and throwing him again into prison.

For some time he remained here, strictly and closely guarded, but his
mind always active as to plans of escape. At last, however, he managed
to enter into relations with Don Martin de Cordoba, General of Oran, by
means of a Moor, who undertook to convey letters asking for help for the
Spanish prisoners. But his ill fortune had not yet deserted him. The
messenger fell into the hands of other Moors, who handed him over to
Azan, and the wretched man was at once put to a cruel death by the Dey's
orders. Curiously enough, the sentence of 2,000 lashes passed upon
Cervantes was never carried into effect.

Disappointments and dangers only made Cervantes more determined to free
himself or die in the attempt; but nearly two years dragged by before he
saw another hope rise before him, though he did everything he could in
the interval to soothe the wretched lot of his fellow-captives. This
t