rs they proved to be, too;
their pupils making enough progress within the next three weeks to
enable them to gather a tolerably correct general idea of what was said
to them. Thus, little by little, and by dint of frequent reiteration,
accompanied by much laughter and many blushes on the part of their fair
instructresses, the two young Englishmen learned that they owed their
lives to the compassion of the Senoritas Clara and Dolores; who,
watching the fight from their window, had been so greatly impressed by
the gallant bearings of Dick and Phil, that when the two were seen to go
down in the melee, the girls, moved by a common impulse, had dashed out
of the house, the moment that a favourable opportunity had presented
itself, and had dragged the apparently inanimate bodies indoors
unnoticed in the prevailing confusion. And they also learned that,
according to common report, some eight or ten survivors of the
ill-advised landing-party had succeeded in fighting their way back to
the ship, which had thereupon got under way and sailed out of the
harbour, leaving the _Santa Margaretta_ ablaze from stem to stern.

Thus the time went on until Dick and Phil had been secreted in Cartagena
nearly six weeks, by which time the former was so nearly approaching
convalescence that the pair had begun to discuss seriously the question
of their future. Then, one night, about nine o'clock, the two girls,
who had been out taking the air upon the alameda, came rushing home in
consternation with the news that somebody had somehow acquired an
inkling of the fact that they were harbouring two Englishmen in their
house, and that the soldiers might be expected to arrive at any moment
to take the whole party prisoners! But, as the girls breathlessly
explained, if the Englishmen got away at once--as they must for their
own sakes--no harm need be expected to befall their hostesses, as it
would then appear that some enemy had been spreading a false and
malicious report.

The two young Englishmen hardly liked the idea of going off and leaving
their kind entertainers to bear unaided the brunt of a strict and severe
cross-examination; but it was obviously the only thing to be done, for
it would be far worse for the family if the hated _Ingleses_ were
actually found in the house, than if their recent presence there were
only suspected; they therefore agreed to go at once; and, since they had
no belongings to pack, were ready to depart upon the inst