ama with the results of his mission. George had estimated that
with due diligence on the part of the secretary, it should be possible
for him to execute his mission in time to be back in Nombre by the
afternoon of the following day; but Don Sebastian was not so sanguine;
he knew the Spanish propensity to procrastinate, and he also knew that
Don Silvio Calderon, the Governor of Panama, was not the man to permit
himself to be hurried, particularly in the interests of other people;
also he knew, a great deal better than George, how many difficulties
stood in the way of securing the speedy release of prisoners from the
galleys, even under the most favourable circumstances. He therefore did
all that he could, by representation, to prepare his captors for a
certain amount of delay; consequently when the next day passed without
bringing any sign of the secretary's return, nobody was very greatly
surprised or disappointed.

But it was not until four full days had passed, and the afternoon of the
fifth was well advanced, that Senor Montalvo, hot, dusty, travel-
stained, and weary, re-appeared; and when Don Sebastian had twice
perused the letter of which the secretary was the bearer, it was
perfectly evident, from the expression of dismay upon his Excellency's
countenance, and his muttered ejaculations of "Fool! thrice-sodden
fool!--pig!--obstinate mule!" and other uncomplimentary expressions,
that the secretary's mission had not been brilliantly successful. On
the contrary, it soon developed that the errand had proved an utter
failure, for after an hour's earnest and anxious converse and discussion
with Senor Montalvo, Don Sebastian approached George, and, with every
evidence of the utmost distress, handed him the reply of the Governor of
Panama to read.

The letter was brief and to the point. It opened with a pithy but
pungent expression of Don Silvio's opinion of the capacity of a Governor
who could permit his city to be captured and held by a handful of
English pirates; then proceeded succinctly to refuse to accede to any of
those pirates' demands; and wound up by saying that if the garrison and
citizens of Nombre were such fools as to allow themselves to be
surprised, they must take the consequences, whatever they might be.
But, Don Silvio concluded by saying, if the city of Nombre were sacked
by the English, the citizens might console themselves with the assurance
that they would be amply avenged, for he (Don Silvio) w