!--Holy St. Francis. Yes, now I recollect. Why the fact
is--"

"Pedro!" called a voice from above; the man stopped, put his fingers to
his lips, went out, and locked the door.

"God of Heaven! give me patience," cried Philip; "but this is too
trying."

"He will be down here again to-morrow morning," observed Krantz.

"Yes! to-morrow morning but what an endless time will suspense make of
the intervening hours."

"I feel for you," replied Krantz; "but what can be done? The hours must
pass, though suspense draws them out into interminable years; but I hear
footsteps."

Again the door was unlocked, and the first soldier made his appearance.
"Follow me--the Commandant would speak with you."

This unexpected summons was cheerfully complied with by Philip and his
companion. They walked up the narrow stone steps, and at last found
themselves in a small room in presence of the Commandant, with whom our
readers have been already made acquainted. He was lolling on a small
sofa, his long sword lay on the table before him, and two young native
women were fanning him, one at his head, and the other at his feet.

"Where did you get those dresses?" was the first interrogatory.

"The natives, when they brought us prisoners from the island on which we
had saved ourselves, took away our clothes, and gave us these as a
present from their king."

"And engaged you to serve in their fleet, in the attack of this fort?"

"They forced us," replied Krantz; "for, as there was no war between our
nations, we objected to this service: notwithstanding which, they put us
on board, to make the common people believe that they were assisted by
Europeans."

"How am I to know the truth of this?"

"You have our word in the first place, and our escape from them in the
second."

"You belonged to a Dutch East-Indiaman. Are you officers or common
seamen?"

Krantz, who considered that they were less likely to be detained if they
concealed their rank on board, gave Philip a slight touch with his
finger as he replied, "We are inferior officers. I was third mate, and
this man was pilot."

"And your captain, where is he?"

"I--I cannot say whether he is alive or dead."

"Had you no woman on board?"

"Yes! the captain had his wife."

"What has become of her?"

"She is supposed to have perished on a portion of the raft which broke a
drift."

"Ha!" replied the Commandant, who remained silent for some time.

Philip looked at Krantz,