a record of their arrival, and yes, I seem to
recall some of the circumstances, but the multiplicity of my duties as
Governor of the city renders it difficult to--. With your permission,
senor, I will summon my secretary; he will doubtless be able to throw
some light upon the affair."

"Pray do so at once, senor," answered George. "It was solely to gain
intelligence of the whereabouts of those men and to secure their release
that I came to Nombre; and if you cannot at least afford me some
assistance, I am afraid that it will be a bad thing for your city."

"But, noble senor," remonstrated Don Sebastian, "you will surely not
hold Nombre responsible--"

"For the disappearance of those men?" interrupted George. "Indeed I
will, then, your Excellency, unless you can afford me satisfactory
evidence as to what has become of them."

"Permit me, senor," said Don Sebastian, and smartly struck a small hand
bell on the table. An attendant almost instantly appeared, to whom the
Governor said peremptorily:

"Find Senor Montalvo, and say that I desire his immediate presence in
this room."

Some five minutes later a smart, dapper-looking young Spaniard entered
and, bowing low, requested to know his Excellency's pleasure.

"Senor Montalvo," said Don Sebastian, "about a year ago a ship named
the--" he hesitated and looked inquiringly at George.

"The _San Mathias_," prompted George.

"Exactly, the _San Mathias_," continued the Governor, "is said to have
arrived here from San Juan de Ulua, bringing from thence seventeen
Englishmen, prisoners, who were sentenced to the galleys--"

"Yes, your Excellency," interrupted the secretary. "I perfectly
remember the circumstances, for it occurred while you were temporarily
laid up with fever, and I transacted the whole of the business connected
with it."

"Ah!" exclaimed his Excellency, with an air of relief. "Then that
sufficiently accounts for my very imperfect recollection of the
affair"--with a glance at George to direct the latter's attention to the
explanation. "Proceed, Senor Montalvo," continued the Governor; "tell
us all that you know concerning the matter."

"Certainly, your Excellency," answered the secretary. "With your
Excellency's permission I will fetch the official records, containing
the full and complete account of the affair." And, bowing deeply to Don
Sebastian and George, he hurried away, and presently returned with an
exceedingly bulky volume under his a