know, to
watch over her."

"But in the meantime what shall we say to that poor young lady?" asked
Tom.

"I haven't the heart to tell her that her father has been shot,"
answered Archy, "though, of course, something must be said; we must not
tell her a falsehood, that's certain."

"Then we must just say that we were marched out into the country, when
firing was heard which we have no doubt came from an English ship of
war, and then we were marched back again," said Tom. "If she asks any
further questions we need not say anything more, and perhaps before long
we shall all be on board, when she will be better able to bear her
misfortune than she would be shut up in prison."

Much to their satisfaction the midshipmen were taken back to the room
they had before occupied. The great drawback, however, was the fear
they felt of being cross-questioned by Miss O'Regan. They had not been
there long before they heard the gaoler's wife go into her room; and
they guessed that she would tell the poor girl more than they themselves
could venture to do.

There was a great deal of talking, and after some time the old woman
went away. Scarcely had she gone than Miss O'Regan opened their door.

"I have important news for you," she exclaimed, in an animated tone: and
she gave them the information she had just heard, that an English
brig-of-war had captured the whole of the Carthagenan fleet, and that
the authorities as well as the people were in a state of the greatest
possible alarm and agitation.

"We may expect therefore to be speedily liberated," she added. "My poor
father must also be set free."

She had been so interested in describing what she had heard that she did
not make the inquiries they expected, and the midshipmen were saved the
pain of informing her of her father's death.

They passed the next two hours in a state of great anxiety; at last
footsteps were heard, and voices coming towards their room. Their door
was thrown open and there stood Lieutenant Murray, Gerald Desmond,
Needham, and several strangers, one of whom was in the consular uniform.
The former giving them a smile of recognition, hurried into Miss
O'Regan's room, and Paddy Desmond, after warmly shaking hands, began
recounting to them the adventures he and Needham had gone through. They
in return had a sad tale to tell of the events which had lately
occurred. It was cut short by the reappearance of Murray with Miss
O'Regan leaning on his arm,