om the beginning. He saw the face of Talbot, the agony of Brooke.
At first there was only wonder in his looks, then came profound
agitation. His sword dropped from his hand.

He turned away. Now, as he thus turned away, had he encountered
fierce, cruel, blood-thirsty faces, he might have come back to his
first resolve, and recovered from the emotion which was unmanning
him; but the faces of his men were full of pity and of wonder. His
fierce followers were themselves overcome, and thus the agitation of
Lopez was heightened.

"I am a soldier," he cried; "I am not a bandit. I am not a
cut-throat. It's all very well for us to kill our enemies in battle,
but, my lads, to kill people in this way is butchery, and if they
want butchers they'll have to get others. I must talk to these men
again, especially to this priest."

With these words Captain Lopez dismissed his men and then turned to
Brooke.

"Senor," said he, "I have some more questions to ask. I will
therefore postpone proceedings until after further examination."

Talbot understood the actions of Lopez, and comprehended the meaning
of his words.

There was an immense revulsion of feeling within her--from that
preparation for death to this restoration to life; yet so perfect was
her self-control that she lost not one whit of her caution, and
vigilance, and outward calm. She did not trust herself to look at
Brooke. She merely turned away and stood with her eyes fixed on the
ground. Brooke stood watching her with a haggard stare. He did not
look at Lopez; but as he caught his words he muttered something in
reply which was unintelligible to Lopez, and quite incoherent in
itself.

The prisoners were now conducted back again to their place of
confinement. Here at last, removed from all strange eyes, the
fortitude of Talbot, so long sustained, gave way utterly. Under the
pressure of so tremendous a reaction her womanly nature reasserted
itself. She fell prostrate upon the floor, and lay there, overwhelmed
by a vehement passion of tears. As for Brooke, he dared not trust
himself to soothe her; he dared not even so much as look at her, but
seated himself as far away as possible, and buried his face in his
hands.

CHAPTER XXV.

IN WHICH BROOKE SINGS AND TALKS IN A LIGHT AND TRIFLING MANNER.

Brooke and Talbot had thus emerged from the Valley of the Shadow of
Death, but that shadow still rested upon them. Their sudden
deliverance had left them both alike