The first intimation that we had that anything was upon us out of the
common run of our drearily dull prison life was hearing a creaking noise
that we knew must be caused by the raising of the grating that shut us
in; and as we hurried out from the oratory into the long passage-way we
saw a company of soldiers coming towards us, at the head of which was a
priest. Fray Antonio and Pablo, startled as we had been by the sound
caused by the opening of the grating and the tramp of feet, also had
come out into the passage; but while Pablo evidently was wondering, even
as we were wondering, what might be the purpose that these men had come
to execute, the look upon the monk's face was of expectation rather than
of surprise. And without waiting for the others to speak, he asked,
eagerly: "Is it to be?"

"It is to be," the priest answered; and it seemed to me that there was
sorrow in the look that went with his words, and sorrow also in the tone
of his voice; and that this man truly was sorrowful because of the
message that he brought I doubt not, for he was the priest who had been
jailer to Fray Antonio, and whose mind had seemed so open to receive the
doctrine that Fray Antonio taught.

But there was only joy in the bearing of the monk as his question thus
was answered; and there was a ringing gladness in his voice as he
replied--being most careful first to draw us away from the room in which
Rayburn was lying--to our looks of wondering inquiry. "The Priest
Captain has granted my request," he said, and added quickly: "Do not
sorrow for me, my friends. Dying for the Faith is the most glorious
ending that life can have; and happier still is he to whom, with this
rare privilege, is given also that of dying that those whom he loves may
yet be saved alive. The Priest Captain has promised that when I have
paid this little debt of life you whom I love so greatly shall go
free--"

"Don't you believe him! He's a blasted liar from the word go!" Young
struck in, clean forgetting, in the passionate sorrow that was rising in
his breast, that what Fray Antonio so plainly had in mind to do he
himself had been most strongly bent upon doing but a moment before. But
Young spoke in English, and without heeding him Fray Antonio went on:
"You two, and the boy, surely will live; and perhaps life may be given
also to our friend. He is in God's hands. And then, until----"

But further speech was not permitted to him. Two soldiers stepped
forwar