ded, thinking in his slow
way that he had been made a jest of, and that the money his wife so
loved had not, after all, been found. The other, as always, proud and
alert to serve the "admiral."

When they had entered the room, Wolfgang's eyes at once rested
greedily upon the basket, which Pedro had again closed, as if he
guessed what treasure lay within. Samson's glance went straight to the
sleeping dwarf, and an almost irresistible impulse to kick the inert
figure possessed him. But he restrained himself, and colored high when
he met the lady's own glance.

"No, Samson, please. No violence. Yet it is Pedro's wise advice that
Ferd be placed under the charge of somebody who shall know at all
times just where he is and what he is about. Will you take that
charge, herder?"

"That ain't the kind of cattle I keep, 'admiral.'"

"I understand it isn't a pleasant task. That's not the question, which
is simply: Will you be responsible for--Ferdinand Bernal?"

The mighty sailor fairly jumped, but his reply was: "You could knock
me down with a feather!"

Mrs. Trent laughed. "Yes, it is strange. But look sharp. The
resemblance is strong. Pedro knows the relationship, and my husband
knew it. I did not, until just now. Something better may suggest
itself to you or me, but for the present, will you take charge of this
unhappy one?"

A delayed and most reluctant "Yes" came at last from the herder's
lips. If he had been asked to punish the dwarf the answer would have
been swift and eager; but "take charge!" That meant constant
association, decent treatment and responsibility for the most
"slippery" of human beings.

"Then, please take him away at once."

Ferd had roused, and was sitting up; so that when Samson laid his
great hand on the lad's shoulder, the latter understood, in a dim way,
that he was now the herder's, rather than the shepherd's prisoner. Of
the two, he would have preferred the latter keeper; but he would
bother with neither very long.

It was a relief when the door closed upon the outgoing pair, and Pedro
rose and locked it. There was something preternaturally solemn and
mysterious in his manner as, placing a chair nearer to the desk for
Mrs. Trent, he motioned Wolfgang to take another opposite. Then,
standing between them he drew the basket toward himself, and keeping
one hand upon it, thrust the other within his shirt and drew from that
the reddish bit of rock which Jessica had seen him so careful of.