p Don Ricardo."

"I know that I can trust you, Antonio," and I put some gold pieces into
his hand. "Perhaps you can bribe your comrades; and promise them any
further reward you think fit."

"They would take the money, and betray me," he answered. "I will employ
some of it, however, but it will be in supplying them with abundance of
strong wine; that will give me a better mastery over them than any
bribe. Trust to my discretion."

After some further conversation, I arranged with Antonio that he was to
try and effect the escape of Uncle Richard, and, if possible, that of
Dr Cazalla. The following night he was to be on guard inside the
prison, and he would then have the keys in his possession. The most
likely time was about ten o'clock; and I arranged to be in the
neighbourhood to assist, if necessary, in the escape of my friend.

Mr Laffan approved of the plan, but thought that it would be imprudent
for him and me to be seen again near the prison, although we might
afterwards join the fugitives. I proposed, therefore, having horses in
readiness, and making our way down to Honda, whence we might embark on
the river Magdalena; and the current being rapid, we should not occupy
more than five days, and might at Carthagena get on board the first
vessel about to sail. If we could once reach any of the British West
India Islands, we should be safe.

On our return Don Jose met us as we entered, with an expression of
anxiety on his countenance.

"I fear, my friends, you are not exactly what you represent yourselves
to be," he said. "You are honest, I doubt not, and well-conducted, and
I wish to fulfil my engagement as far as I can to assist you; but I must
advise you to leave this house and the city as soon as possible, or I
shall be compromised by your remaining."

"I am deeply grateful for all your kindness, and will do as you advise,"
I answered. "I shall be thankful if I have ever the opportunity of
proving my sincerity."

We should at once have left Don Jose, but that it was too late to seek a
lodging; and as he did not express a wish that we should do so, we
remained, promising to bid him farewell the next morning. I sincerely
hoped that he would not suffer in consequence of his kindness to us.

We were about to start on the following day, after breakfast, to which
our kind host insisted we should remain, when, on looking from the
window across the square, we saw, as we had on the morning of our
arrival,