s and downcast
countenances, expecting the fate which awaited them. They had been
captured in open rebellion, attempting to overthrow the government, and
were conscious how they themselves would have treated their enemies had
they exchanged places.

The crowd gathered rapidly, eager to indulge themselves of the spectacle
which was about to take place. Suddenly there came a booming sound of a
gun across the harbour followed by the thunder of several others, one at
short intervals much louder than the rest. The colonel and Captain
Crowhurst turned their heads.

"Those guns come from vessels in action," said Tom; "perhaps one is an
English ship; if so she is sure to give the Dons a drubbing."

Some of the crowd hastened to the harbour to see what had taken place.
The soldiers advanced with their prisoners at a more rapid rate than
before; they quickly reached an open place just outside the town. Here
they stopped, and presently several officers came on the field. The
prisoners were marched a short distance to the front of the troops, who
extended their line on either side of them. An officer of rank with his
staff now rode up. Colonel O'Regan on seeing him stepped forward.

"General Carmona," he said, "I have been your enemy, and have no hope of
mercy at our hands. I, therefore, do not ask it for myself; I speak for
these men, who if they have broken your laws did so in ignorance; still
more earnestly do I entreat you not to injure these two young English
officers, who, as I informed your commodore, are entirely guiltless.
They were saved at sea from a wreck by the brig on board which I was a
passenger, and if you put them to death you will bring the vengeance of
their countrymen on your head; you may have some excuse for shooting me,
but you will have none if you murder them, for murder it will be,
whatever you may call it."

This address seemed to have some effect on the general, who, however,
issued no counter-orders to the officers charged with the execution of
the prisoners. The colonel, with the two masters and their four mates,
together with the principal natives (all of whom appeared to be of the
rank of officers) were placed in a row, when several soldiers came
behind them for the purpose of binding handkerchiefs over their eyes.
The colonel turned round to the men who were about to perform that
office for him with a calm smile.

"I desire to gaze my last on the blue sky above us," he said gently.