e. Of course they had to accept Juan's word for it that the
fugitive's footsteps had been followed thus far, and had utterly
disappeared at the precise spot where the boulder--or whatever it was--
had struck. But, this much granted, the remainder of the story seemed
quite plausible, seemed indeed the only possible explanation; and since
it was quite impossible to test its truth or falsehood without
descending to the river below--which was also an impossibility--they
were disposed to accept it as true.

And thus, very materially assisted by the fortuitous fall of a boulder
down a hillside, did the negroes on Senor Montijo's estate successfully
hoodwink their white masters, and effectually and for ever put a stop to
any further enquiries as to what had become of Major Alvaros, of His
Spanish Majesty's light infantry, and erstwhile Governor of La Jacoba.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE WAR-CLOUD OVERSHADOWS THE HACIENDA MONTIJO.

For the first fortnight or three weeks following the evanishment of
Senor Alvaros a considerable degree of uneasiness prevailed at the
hacienda Montijo, the inmates of which daily looked for the appearance
of some emissary of the Spanish Government, charged with the duty of
investigating the circumstances connected with the disappearance of an
important Spanish official: and it was recognised that not only would
the enquiries of such an individual be difficult to reply to, but also
that his presence would incidentally result in the discovery that the
members of the Montijo family, instead of being at Fernando Po, were--
with one exception--at home again. It was admitted to be a contingency
that needed careful yet firm handling, and after much consideration a
plan was evolved by Jack and Carlos which it was believed would deal
effectively with the difficulty, and the necessary steps were taken.
But as day after day passed without bringing upon them the complication
which they apprehended, their uneasiness rapidly lessened, until at
length a day arrived when the conviction forced itself upon them that
the attention of the Spanish Government was so fully occupied with other
and much more important matters that the disappearance of Senor Alvaros
seemed likely to be permitted to pass without especial notice. And
thereupon Jack undertook to pay a visit to Don Ramon Bergera in Havana,
with the object of ascertaining, as far as possible, what was the
attitude of the Spanish official mind upon the subjec