sat and stewed in it. Water was not too plentiful in the city, and
the native water-carriers had grown lazy; thirst racked the prisoners
one and all. They had been shut in for the better part of two weeks,
and wondered why they had not been brought to trial. They had expected
a short shrift and a speedy execution. Usually these expectations
would have been realized, but the governor would not be bothered with
any extra work whilst the heat spell lasted, and he had been warned
that the "Holy Office" would claim the Englishmen as heretics and
blasphemers. This would mean a lengthy wrangle between the military
and ecclesiastical authorities, and his sun-dried excellency was not in
the mood or condition to preside over heated arguments. The fellows
were safe, he said, and would have time to think over their sins,
political and religious. Let them alone for a while.

It was the turn of Nick Johnson and Johnnie Morgan to be at the window.
A rough bench was drawn up near the opening, and the two knelt thereon
and let the hot air--cool compared with the general atmosphere of the
prison--blow softly on their faces. They were not allowed to put their
heads too near the blessed inlet, for that would shut out the light
from their comrades. Their joint occupation of the room had been
lengthy enough to give rise to a set of rules for their mutual good and
guidance. The law against blocking up the window too closely was a
very strict one. From the angle at which he looked out Nick could see
the drowsy sentinel.

"'Twill be such a day as this that will give us our chance of freedom,"
he said. "Could we but get out now, we might parade the streets
unchallenged for an hour. The Dons are in no hurry either to hang or
burn us, and we cannot wait their convenience. If the Indian will only
bring us the arrowhead that he promised, we will try our legs about
noon tomorrow. We ought to take a block out of this wall in
twenty-four hours."

Johnnie nodded; his mouth was too parched for speaking. Nick's voice
was very like a raven's croak, and he licked his dry lips and relapsed
into silence. Their spell at the window came to an end. They stepped
down, and went to a corner. Two sailors took their places.

The stifling afternoon passed, and left the captives limp, panting, and
exhausted. As the shadows lengthened, the stir of life arose anew in
the castle. Towards evening the jailer visited his charges, and an
Indian came w