arlist,
for I'm not a Spaniard."

"You may not be a Spaniard, yet still be a devoted Carlist."

"Yes, but I'm not. I assure you that I'm a Republican. Shall I prove
it to you and to all these gentlemen?"

"Try it," sneered Lopez.

"I'm an American," said Brooke.

"An American," repeated Lopez, bitterly. "Better for you to be a
Carlist than that. Is it not enough for you Americans to intermeddle
with our affairs in Cuba, and help our rebels there, but must you
also come to help our rebels here? But come--what is your business
here? Let's see what new pretence you have to offer."

"I am a traveller."

"Yes, I suppose so," sneered Lopez. "And who is this other?"

"He is a young priest."

"A young priest? Ah! Then, senor, let me inform you that as Spaniards
we hate all Americans, and as Republicans we hate all priests. Spain
has had too much of both. Americans are her worst enemies outside and
priests inside. Down with all Americans and priests!"

The echo to this sentiment came in a shout from all the followers of
Lopez,

"Down with all Americans and priests!"

With this cry a hundred fierce faces surrounded them, and glared at
them with fiery eyes. It seemed as though their last hour had come.
The crowd pressed closer, and clamored for their immediate
destruction. The only thing that held them back was the attitude of
Brooke, who stood perfectly cool and tranquil, with his eyes fixed on
Lopez, a good-natured smile on his face, and his hands carelessly in
his pockets. Close beside him stood Talbot, pale, it is true, but
with a calm exterior that showed not one trace of fear. Brooke did
not see her, and did not venture to look at her, but he felt that she
was as firm as a rock. Had they faltered in the slightest degree, the
storm must have burst; but as it was, the calmness of these two
disarmed the fury of the mob, and their fierce passion died away.

"Captain Lopez," said Brooke, in a quiet and friendly tone, "you may
have reason to hate my country, but I assure you that you have
absolutely no cause for complaint against me and my friend. We are
simple travellers who have been interrupted on our journey, and are
now trying to get to the nearest railway station so as to resume it
as soon as possible."

"How did you get here?" asked Lopez, after a pause, in which he again
scrutinized severely the two prisoners.

Brooke had anticipated this question, and had made up his mind as to
his answer. It was his