rison was soon reached. The guards were a little surprised at the
change of the bearer, but no one dared to think of opposing the passage
of the well-known and awful emblem of office!

"Come, Hockins, Ebony, Laihova, follow us," cried Mark, springing in.

He did not wait to explain. The Secretary, acting his part well,
stalked with grand solemnity down the streets towards the western gate
of the city. His four friends followed. Every one made way. Hockins
and the negro, not knowing what they might be called on to do, took the
first opportunity that presented, each to seize and carry off a
garden-stake, as a substitute for cudgel or quarter-staff.

The guards, as before, let them pass without question. Once outside the
town they quickened their pace, and finally ran.

"We may be too late!" gasped Mark.

"It may be so--but we have not far to go." As he spoke they
distinguished sounds as of men engaged in a struggle. On turning a
point of rock they came in sight of a party of twelve soldiers. They
were struggling fiercely with one man, whom they tried to bind. But the
man seemed to possess the power of Samson.

"It's Voalavo," cried Hockins, and rushed to the rescue.

"Das so," cried the negro, following suit with blazing eyes.

Snatching the silver spear from the Secretary, Mark sprang forward like
a wild-cat, and, sweeping it right and left, brought down two of the
men. His comrades overturned two others whose muskets they seized,
while Voalavo, with the power of a giant, hurled two others from him as
if they had been boys. He did not stop to speak, but to the surprise of
his rescuers, ran straight into a neighbouring coppice, and disappeared.

For one moment the remaining soldiers lowered their bayonets as if to
charge, but the Secretary, grasping the Hater of Lies, said, in a
commanding tone--

"What means this haste? Ye shall answer to the Queen for what you have
done! Go! Return to your quarters. You are under arrest. Carry your
comrades with you!"

Cowed by this speech, for they all knew the Secretary to be a man of
position and power in the palace, the soldiers humbly picked up their
fallen comrades and retired. The victors immediately ran into the
coppice in search of Voalavo, whom they found on his knees, digging up
the earth with both hands as if for very life! Just as they came up he
had uncovered the face of Ravonino, who had been buried alive, and was
already as pale as if he we