d every thing disagreeable, had
commenced. Still the day was delightful after ten o'clock, and the
weather as clear as ever.

Morton had seen these indications of the approach of wet weather with no
small anxiety; he knew full well that the governor and his family would
pass the rainy season at Tepic, a city about ninety miles from the
coast, or at some of the other large towns, in the more elevated and
healthy regions inland. With Captain Hazard's permission, he hastened to
the town, and to Juanita's house, but Isabella was not to be seen. After
waiting for some time, a little girl brought him a short note, simply
saying that she would see him in the evening, but could not before. With
this promise he was obliged to content himself, and rode slowly back to
the Porte. He was punctually on shore again at sunset, and once more
hastened to town, having hired another horse, and directed his boat's
crew not to go away from the quay. Having secured his horses at a
certain place near the zig-zag descent towards the harbor already
mentioned, he passed into the plaza, and was struck with consternation
and despair, at seeing assembled before Don Gaspar's door, horses and
mules in abundance, caparisoned for a journey. In fact, there was
indisputable proof that the family were, in military parlance, on the
route.

He hastened to the good dame Juanita's, and, in a few minutes, Isabella
entered the room, and, throwing off, in her distress, all unnecessary
reserve, threw herself weeping into his arms.

"All is over, dear Charles, all is lost--I set out to-night for Tepic,
and we shall never meet again but in heaven."

"All is _not_ lost, my own Isabella; every thing is in readiness--fly
then with me--while your family are in confusion you will not
immediately be missed, and, before an hour passes, you shall be safe on
board."

"No, no; I dare not, I cannot."

To all his entreaties she seemed deaf, positively refusing to consent to
escape with him; but whether from fear of being overtaken, or from
maidenly timidity, it would be, perhaps, difficult to decide. At last,
Morton, who was nearly beside himself with disappointment and vexation,
relapsed into a short and stupified silence.

"Isabella," said he, at length, and with composure that startled her,
"reflect for one moment upon your situation; you know your uncle's
temper; you know he is not a man that will easily give up any of his
plans--this is your only chance for escape