the treasure
reported by Don Silvio to be concealed, were captured or killed, and in
five minutes the troops had possession. But how to assist those above
was the difficulty. The room below was in flames, and burning fiercely.
There were no ladders that could reach so high, and there were no means
of getting to them. The commandant made signs from below, as if to ask
what he was to do.

"I see no chance," observed Don Philip mournfully. "Easy, my dear
fellow, and you, Gascoigne, I am sorry that the feuds of our family
should have brought you to such a dreadful death; but what can be done?"

"I don't know," replied Jack, "unless we could get ropes."

"You quite sure, Massa Easy, that all galley-rascals below gone?" asked
Mesty.

"Yes," replied Easy, "you may see that; look at some of them bound
there, under charge of the soldiers."

"Den, sar, I tink it high time we go too."

"So do I, Mesty; but how?"

"How? stop a little."

"Come, help me, Massa Easy; dis board (for the loft was floored) is
loose, come help, all of you."

They all went, and with united strength pulled up the board.

"Now strike like ---!--and drive down de plaster," said Mesty,
commencing the operation.

In a few minutes they had beaten an opening into one of the rooms below
not on fire, pulled up another board, and Mesty having fetched the
ladder, they all descended in safety, and, to the astonishment of the
commandant of the troops, walked out of the door of the house, those who
had been stunned with the stones having so far recovered as to require
little assistance.

The soldiers shouted as they saw them appear, supporting the females.
The commanding officer, who was an intimate friend of Don Philip, flew
to his arms. The prisoners were carefully examined by Mesty, and Don
Silvio was not among them. He might however, be among the dead who were
left in the house, which now began to burn furiously. The galley-slaves
who were captured amounted in number to forty-seven. Their dead they
could not count. The major part of the plunder and the carts were still
where they had been drawn up.

As soon as the culprits had been secured, the attention of the troops
was directed to putting out the flames, but their attempts were
ineffectual; the mansion was burned to the bare walls, and but little of
the furniture saved; indeed, the major part of it had been destroyed in
the attack made by Don Silvio and his adherents.

Leaving directio