yourself. I see nothing at all in that truculent young Englishman's
threat that is in the least degree calculated to excite the risibility
of anyone whose misfortune it is to be a dweller in this god-forsaken
city of Nombre de Dios. Not even its name seems to protect it in the
slightest degree from the sacrilegious violence of these Lutheran dogs.
Pray explain yourself, senor."

"Ten thousand pardons, your Excellency," exclaimed Montalvo, still
grinning delightedly. "It was not so much the Englishman's threats at
which I was amused--although I think we may perhaps permit ourselves to
smile at them, too; what I was chiefly amused at was the stroke of
genius by which I have fortunately been able to save our city from sack
by those pestilent English to-day."

"You--you have saved Nombre from being sacked to-day?" exclaimed Don
Sebastian. "Still I fail to understand you, senor."

"Did you not observe, your Excellency, that, in reply to a question by
the young English pirate, I mentioned that the cavalry from Panama might
be expected to appear here at any moment? That was a little slip of the
tongue on my part, the result of a happy inspiration. Had I replied
truthfully I should have said that the cavalry could hardly by any
possibility arrive until some time to-morrow; and the result of that
reply would in all probability have been an instant order by that young
English dog to sack the city, which work might easily be accomplished
before the appearance of the cavalry upon the scene. But did you mark
the expression of Senor Englishman's face when I said that the cavalry
might be expected at any moment? It was terror, your Excellency--terror
and consternation! And the result is an order for the instant
evacuation of this battery and the retreat of the English from the town.
That youngster at once recognised that if the cavalry were close at
hand there would be no time to sack the town: he and his people would be
caught and exterminated to a man. Hence his magnanimous resolve to
spare us for the time being. _Now_ does your Excellency understand?"

"Ah! yes; of course I do, and I beg your pardon for my hasty rebuke,
Montalvo," exclaimed Don Sebastian, seizing his companion's hand and
shaking it heartily. "_Caramba_! that was a brilliant idea of yours
about the cavalry, and it has had the effect that you foresaw; the
rascally Englishmen are much too anxious regarding the safety of their
own skins to think of plun