ou, you are welcome," said the sergeant roughly; "it
will be a lesson to the heretics not to hold illegal meetings again. If
they wanted really to pray, there are the churches, and there is the
mass for them; what more can they desire, unless they are really
children of Satan?"

Taking Master Clough's arm, Captain Radford and I led him upstairs after
the soldier. We entered a room near the hall. A ghastly sight met our
eyes. Thrown carelessly on the floor, in a row, were eight dead bodies,
just as they had been dragged out of the hall. Two were females, the
rest were men. There had been many more men than women in the room,
and, as might have been expected, a greater number of the former had
suffered. The scene was one that might have sent a cold shudder through
the hearts of people less interested than we were. Poor Master Clough
could scarcely force himself to look at the dead bodies. We had to move
one of the females to examine her countenance, as she had been thrown
down with her face to the ground. Master Clough breathed more freely
when he found that neither his wife nor Margery were among them. I was
deeply thankful also to find that my friend A'Dale had escaped,
dangerous as his position might be. This sad task performed, we
hastened below, to inquire of the Spanish sergeant what had become of
the prisoners.

"Have you any friends among them?" he asked.

"Yes, my friend, we have," answered Master Clough; "and we will
recompense you if you will enable us to see them."

"You Englishmen have no lack of gold, and you will have no lack of
friends wherever you go," answered the sergeant. "For the present I
cannot leave my post; but I shall very likely be on guard at the prison
to-morrow, and then I will assist you, if you will make it worth my
while."

"But in the meantime can you tell us where our friends are to be found?"
I asked.

"I will send one of my men, and he will show you," whispered the
sergeant. "I am prohibited telling you, but you will understand."

He gave a peculiarly knowing look as he spoke. I doubted much whether
the fellow was to be trusted; and yet we might obtain what we desired
through his assistance. It was important also to find a man so willing
to be bribed. By managing him properly, I saw that we might make him of
use. The sergeant, telling us to wait, called one of his men, and
whispered for some time in his ear.

"It is all arranged," he said, at length; "and yo