unnasting, as she is called in
Shetland, the daughter of Sir Marcus Wardhill. Moreover, it is believed
that, instigated by the present marquis, a pirate crew attacked the
castle, and carried off the son of Donna Hilda, of whom I speak, the
rightful heir to the title and estates of Medea."

Never, probably, had the countenance of the priest exhibited so much
astonishment, or indeed, any sentiment, as it did at present.

"By what wonderful means have you become acquainted with what you have
told me?" he asked.

"By the simplest of all; by having been told by those who were
acquainted with the facts," answered Ronald.

"But how were they informed of those facts?" asked the priest, with
increased interest.

"They learned them from a Spanish naval officer, Pedro Alvarez by name,
who was the lieutenant of Don Hernan. He had promised to assist his
captain's widow and her infant son to the utmost of his power. He
returned to Shetland for that purpose, and when he heard that the boy
had been carried off, he sailed away in search of the pirate; he,
however, never returned to Shetland, and it is believed that he perished
before he accomplished his purpose. The young Escalante has never been
discovered, though the poor Lady Hilda lives on in expectation of
recovering her son."

"No wonder that sacrilegious wretch, Pedro Alvarez, never returned to
you. He was guilty of murdering one of the familiars of our most holy
Inquisition. Had he ever caught the pirate he could not have returned
to Spain, but must have been a wanderer on the face of the earth, with
the mark of Cain on his brow."

"I was a mere infant when he last came to Shetland, so that I have no
personal recollection of him, but from what I have heard, he was very
much liked by all with whom he associated," said Ronald.

"Your heretical countrymen would probably think that killing an officer
of the Inquisition was a very venial offence, and not look upon him with
any horror on that account; but depend on it, an avenging Nemesis
followed him to his grave, or will follow him, if he still lives,"
remarked the priest. "But we are now close to your ship. I would
advise you not to let the marquis know that you are acquainted with that
part of his history, which he would desire to keep secret. At first I
thought that you were the son of Don Hernan, but I see that I was
mistaken."

As soon as the felucca was towed alongside the frigate, the prisoners,
as well a