g the father-confessor to you.--He will be of
most service in the end. Now, senor surgeon, you will not be long about
it."

"I may take half an hour, or possibly an hour," answered the stranger,
in execrably bad Spanish.

I knew the voice,--it was that of Doctor Stutterheim. I had difficulty
in restraining myself from jumping up and shaking him by the hand; but I
had sense enough to wait till the jailer had closed the door and
retired.

"Why, Barry, my boy--Barry! it is you, then! I thought it must be, from
the account I heard," said the doctor in a low voice as he approached
me.

"I am indeed Barry, my kind friend," I exclaimed, stretching out my
hand. "How did you manage to discover me?"

"Because I looked for you, Barry," answered the doctor. "We heard at
the camp that a young officer carrying despatches had been captured; and
when, after a time, you did not turn up, I resolved to endeavour to find
out where you were imprisoned. `Where there's a will there's a way,'
and I soon ascertained in what direction you had gone. As it was not
known that I had been with the patriots, I reassumed without difficulty
my character of a travelling philosopher, and managed at length to reach
this place. I at once gave out that I was ready to exercise my skill on
any sick people who desired to recover from their maladies, of every
sort and description; and as I demanded very small fees, I soon had
numbers flocking to consult me. I made inquiries of all who came, and
thus learned that a young Englishman, whom I knew must be you, was shut
up in the castle. I was turning over in my mind various plans for
getting access to you, when I heard that the commandant was inquiring
for a surgeon. I presented myself before him, and from what he told me
I had no longer any doubt that it was you he wished me to visit. He
observed that I might try to heal your wound, though he believed that it
was of little use, as you would probably be taken out and shot in a few
days. I would not have told you this unless I had hoped, in the first
place, to cure you, and then to enable you to escape--as I have
determined in some way or other to do. Now let me examine your wound."

The doctor at once set to work; but I need not describe his mode of
operation. Though I at first suffered some pain, I ultimately felt more
comfortable than I had done for a long time. He then gave me some
medicines to strengthen me, and promised that he would obta