re than justified, and that ere long we shall lose all
the possessions that the swords of our ancestors won for us, and which
were regarded with so much natural pride by Spaniards; and the worst of it
is, that it is the outcome of our own work, our own oppression and
misgovernment. Were I to speak like this in public, not even the influence
of my two uncles could save me. I too should disappear and be heard of no
more. I have been thinking," he went on after a few minutes' silence, "for
the last two or three days whether it would not be better for me to give
you back your parole and to suffer you to escape. Of course I should be
blamed, but the offence would not be a tithe of the gravity of that of
speaking as I have just spoken to you."

"I would not think of such a thing, Don Filippo," Stephen replied warmly.
"I would not take my freedom at the cost of involving in my trouble one
who has behaved so kindly to me. I have still a great hope that everything
will turn out well, and that I shall be exchanged for some officer in the
admiral's hands. He is sure to hear of my being at Callao, for his last
letter said that many deserters were coming in, and from some of these he
is likely to learn that I am a prisoner; and in that case he would not, I
am sure, lose a day in sending in a flag of truce with a request for my
exchange, and a notice that if this was refused he would quickly follow it
by retributive measures if any harm befell me."

The Spaniard did not reply. He felt sure that every pains would be taken
by the authorities to prevent the news of his companion's capture becoming
public; and his uncle, on appointing him Stephen's escort, had laid strict
injunctions on him to say nothing of the matter on his arrival at Callao
until he had delivered his prisoner over to the authorities, and had
received permission from them to speak of it. On the following day they
entered the town. As they rode to the house of the military governor no
one paid any heed to their passage; it was but two young officers
returning perhaps from Lima or from some other station. On reaching the
governor Filippo went up alone to make his report, leaving Stephen in
charge of the soldiers. He was absent half an hour.

"I have said all I could for you," he said gloomily on his return. "The
governor is one of the old type, obstinate, bigoted, and arrogant. I have
not been all this time with him; in fact only a few minutes. He dismissed
all I had to