elf. If he tries to kill me, I suppose I
needn't bare my breast to the blow?"

"No, no," I interposed; "I have a regard for his Excellency, but
we must not let our feelings betray us into weakness. He must be
taken--alive and well, if possible--but in the last resort, dead or
alive."

"Come, that's more like sense," said the colonel approvingly.

The signorina sighed, but opposed us no longer.

Returning to ways and means, we arranged for communication in case of
need during the next three days without the necessity of meeting. My
position, as the center of financial business in Whittingham, made
this easy; the passage of bank messengers to and fro would excite
little remark, and the messages could easily be so expressed as to
reveal nothing to an uninstructed eye. It was further agreed that on
the smallest hint of danger reaching any one of us, the word should
at once be passed to the others, and we should _rendezvous_ at the
colonel's "ranch," which lay some seven miles from the town. Thence,
in this lamentable case, escape would be more possible.

"And now," said the colonel, "if Martin will hand over the dollars, I
think that's about all."

I had brought the ten thousand dollars with me. I produced them and
put them on the table, keeping a loving hand on them.

"You fully understand my position, colonel?" I said. "This thing is no
use to me unless I receive at least three hundred and twenty thousand
dollars, to pay back principal, to meet interest, and to replace
another small debt to the bank. If I do that, I shall be left with a
net profit of five thousand dollars, not an extravagant reward. If
I don't get that sum I shall be a defaulter, revolution or no
revolution."

"I can't make money if it's not there," he said, but without his usual
brusqueness of tone. "But to this we agree: You are to have first turn
at anything we find, up to the sum you name. It's to be handed over
solid to you. The signorina and I take the leavings. You don't claim
to share them too, do you?"

"No," I said, "I'm content to be a preference shareholder. If the
money's found at the Golden House, it's mine. If not, the new
Government, whatever it may do as to the rest of the debt, will pay me
that sum."

With that I pushed my money over to the colonel.

"I expect the new Government to be very considerate to the bondholders
all round," said the colonel, as he pocketed it with a chuckle.
"Anyhow, your terms are agreed; eh, sign