e. Every step increased
Russell's confidence, and when he gained the tower he felt sure of
escape. But to wait here long was not to be thought of; so, after a
few moments spent in regaining breath, the two set forth to continue
their flight.

At length, after a fatiguing journey, they reached the main road, and
here they turned toward the south, in which direction they went for
some miles.

They had now been walking for many hours, and Russell, who was quite
unused to any exercise of this sort, was greatly fatigued. Nothing,
indeed, but the dread of capture and the thought of a merciless
pursuer on his track had kept him up so long. He felt that he had
reached the utmost limit of his strength.

At last they caught sight of a windmill in a field on the right. The
sight enlivened him. Here, he thought, they might hide and obtain
rest. He said this to Rita. She acquiesced. To gain the windmill was
now their chief desire.

Nearer they came, and nearer.

But now, just when all seemed gained, they saw a number of armed men
coming toward them, and in a few minutes they were arrested by the
followers of Lopez.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

HOW DANGERS THICKEN AROUND THE DESPAIRING RUSSELL.

The moon was still shining very brightly, and they could see very
well the faces and the uniforms of their captors. The sight of the
government uniforms was very reassuring to Rita, who was only anxious
to escape from the Carlists; but the first glance which Russell gave
at the captain of the band overwhelmed him with terror. He recognized
Lopez, and saw that he had fallen into the hands of one who had no
reason, and perhaps no inclination, to show him the slightest mercy.
At that sight all Russell's courage subsided, and he fell into a
state of mental prostration as extreme as that which he had
experienced when "His Majesty" had confronted him in his flight.

For, unfortunately for him, Lopez had received at his hands treatment
which was sufficient to inspire a deep resentment even in a man less
impetuous than this hot-blooded Spaniard. First, he had not only
discouraged his attentions to Katie, but had prohibited them in every
possible way, and in the most positive and insulting manner. Again,
but a short time before this, at the railway station at Madrid, he
had caused him to be ejected from the railway-carriage. For all this
he felt that Lopez must cherish a deep desire for vengeance, and
would rejoice now if he were to discove