ation stood out in big drops upon
his face in the close heat of the little loft, both he and his companion
could feel the horrible tickling sensation of the beads joining together
and trickling down their necks.

Then after what seemed to be quite an interval, the old man's voice
arose in deep, stern tones, as he exclaimed, "What lie is this, my son,
that you have uttered to these strangers?"

"I--I, father--" faltered the man, shrinking back a step and dropping
the soft cap he was turning in his hands upon the beaten floor, and then
stooping hastily to snatch it up again--"I--father--I--"

"I say, what lie is this you have told these strangers for the sake of
gaining a few accursed pieces of silver? Go, before I--Ah!" For there
was a quick movement on the part of the peasant, and he dashed out of
the door.

"_Halte_!" yelled the French officer, following the peasant outside; and
then, giving a sharp command, the scattered reports of some half-dozen
muskets rang out on the night-air, the two fugitives starting as at each
shot the flash of the musket lit up the loft where they lay. Then a
short question or two, and their replies came through the open doorway,
and it became evident to the listeners that the peasant had escaped.

"Bah!" ejaculated the officer, as Punch saw him stride through the
doorway into the room again. "Look here, father," he said in his bad
Spanish, "I paid this scoundrel to guide me to the place where he said
two Englishmen were in hiding; but he did not tell me it was with his
priest. As he has brought us here I must search."

"For the escaped prisoners?" the old man said, drawing himself up with
dignity. "I do not speak your language, sir, but I think that is what
you mean. Can you repeat your words in Latin? You might make your
wishes more plain."

"Latin? No, I have forgotten all that," said the officer impatiently in
more clumsy Spanish than before. "The English prisoners--my men must
search," And the fugitives, unable though they were to comprehend the
words, naturally grasped their meaning and held their breath till they
felt they must draw it again with a sound that would betray their
presence.

Then, with a slight laugh, the old priest laid his book upon the table
and took up the smoky oil-lamp. As he did so, Punch could see his face
plainly, for it was lit up by the lamp, and the boy could perceive the
mocking mirth in his eyes as he raised it above his head with his le