drawn up to receive him, and in advance of
this stood Major Mallard and two others who were unknown to the
Deputy-Governor: one slight and elegant, the other big and brawny.

Major Mallard advanced. "Colonel Bishop, I have orders to arrest you.
Your sword, sir!"

"By order of the Governor of Jamaica," said the elegant little man
behind Major Mallard. Bishop swung to him.

"The Governor? Ye're mad!" He looked from one to the other. "I am the
Governor."

"You were," said the little man dryly. "But we've changed that in your
absence. You're broke for abandoning your post without due cause, and
thereby imperiling the settlement over which you had charge. It's a
serious matter, Colonel Bishop, as you may find. Considering that you
held your office from the Government of King James, it is even possible
that a charge of treason might lie against you. It rests with your
successor entirely whether ye're hanged or not."

Bishop rapped out an oath, and then, shaken by a sudden fear: "Who the
devil may you be?" he asked.

"I am Lord Willoughby, Governor General of His Majesty's colonies in the
West Indies. You were informed, I think, of my coming."

The remains of Bishop's anger fell from him like a cloak. He broke into
a sweat of fear. Behind him Lord Julian looked on, his handsome face
suddenly white and drawn.

"But, my lord..." began the Colonel.

"Sir, I am not concerned to hear your reasons," his lordship interrupted
him harshly. "I am on the point of sailing and I have not the time. The
Governor will hear you, and no doubt deal justly by you." He waved to
Major Mallard, and Bishop, a crumpled, broken man, allowed himself to be
led away.

To Lord Julian, who went with him, since none deterred him, Bishop
expressed himself when presently he had sufficiently recovered.

"This is one more item to the account of that scoundrel Blood," he
said, through his teeth. "My God, what a reckoning there will be when we
meet!"

Major Mallard turned away his face that he might conceal his smile, and
without further words led him a prisoner to the Governor's house, the
house that so long had been Colonel Bishop's own residence. He was left
to wait under guard in the hall, whilst Major Mallard went ahead to
announce him.

Miss Bishop was still with Peter Blood when Major Mallard entered. His
announcement startled them back to realities.

"You will be merciful with him. You will spare him all you can for my
sake, Peter," she