ct. He was a
man of medium size, and sinewy, well-knit frame. He had keen, gray
eyes, which noticed everything, and could penetrate to the inner core
of things; close-cropped hair, short serviceable beard, of that style
which is just now most affected by men of restless energy; a short,
straight nose, and a general air of masterful self-restraint and
self-possession. Not a handsome man, strictly speaking, was our
friend Brooke; not by any means a "lady's man;" but he was something
better, inasmuch as he was a manly man, one who would be trusted
thoroughly and followed blindly by other men, ay, and by women too;
for, after all, it is not the lady's man who is appreciated by true
women, but the man's man. To such as these the best sort of women
delight to do reverence. Add to this Brooke's abrupt manner, rather
harsh voice, inconsequential talk, habit of saying one thing while
thinking of something totally different, love of drollery, and dry,
short laugh, and then you have Brooke complete, who is here described
simply because there has not been any very convenient place for
describing him before.

Shortly after the examination of the prisoners, the greater part of
the band had gone away with the captain, and only half a dozen men
were left behind on guard.

After Brooke had grown tired of his own meditations, he wandered
toward the window and looked out. Here he stood watching the men
below, and studying their faces until he had formed his own
conclusion as to the character of each one.

"I'm trying," said he to Talbot, who came near, "to find out which
one of these fellows is the most susceptible of bribery and
corruption. They're all a hard lot; the trouble is that one watches
the other so closely that I can't get a fair chance."

"I wonder where the others have gone," said Talbot.

"Oh, they've gone off to search for the prisoners, of course," said
Brooke. "I don't believe they'll find anything about them on this
road; and as for the castle, they'll be unable to do anything there
unless they take cannon."

At length the opportunity arrived for which Brooke had been waiting.
The guards had wandered off to a little distance, and only one man
was left. He was just below at the door of the mill. Brooke was glad
to see that he was the ugliest of the lot, and the very one whom he
had mentally decided upon as being the most corruptible.

Upon this man he began to try his arts.

"Good-morning, senor," said he, insi