to say to Dom Maxara on the subject."

Rising, Isabel took her father's arm, and leading him towards the river
side, seemed to urge something, to which he would not consent.

"Impossible, Isabel; wholly so. The brig is an English trader, bound
for the Cape, and takes us only as passengers. Her captain cannot delay
beyond the stipulated day; but come, we will do our best."

"My daughter, Dom Isidore has been urging our stay at Senna for some
days longer, but I am forced to say nay. You, gentlemen," continued the
ceremonious old noble, bowing first to the missionary, then to the
soldier, "seek to return to the Cape; will you so far honour my daughter
and myself as to accompany us?"

The soldier's face flushed with pleasure. It was just what he could
have desired. Wyzinski courteously declined, urging that they must wait
until the "Alert" gun brig should touch at Quillimane, as they were
without funds, and unable to pay their passage to the Cape.

A stately wave of the hand from Dom Francisco followed this
matter-of-fact declaration, which wounded the soldier to the quick. He
almost hated Wyzinski, and yet the determination had been come to that
morning, on hearing of the advent of the "Alert."

"The brig `Halcyon' waits us at Quillimane," persisted the noble. "She
is chartered by my government to convey me, its envoy, to the Cape, and
can take no passengers, but is bound to receive my suite and guests.
Will the senhors honour us by becoming the latter?"

"And you may, indeed, help us," interposed Isabel, fixing her dark eyes
on the missionary. "What shall we do on board an English brig, with no
one to understand us. But will not the senhor be too weak if we leave
to-morrow?"

As she stood there, with the stars shining upon her, and the fire-flies
playing like an aureole round her head, it occurred to Hughes that he
was strong enough to follow her anywhere. The missionary looked at him
inquiringly.

"Every day will bring me strength," he replied; "and I shall be very
glad to get to the sea once more. Senhor Dom Francisco Maxara, I accept
your kind and generous offer, with many thanks."

"And I also," joined in Wyzinski.

"Then, Senhor Commandant, we will start to-morrow evening. I shall
leave my staff here until the surveys, estimates, and plans be
completed, and you shall have your revenge when you come home."

"All shall be in readiness," replied Mujaio, as he took a whistle from
his neck, and