faced about, and marched back through the
passage. I hesitated on the top of the steps, so narrow and broken and
dark did they look.

"Come along, Senores, come along!" said the gaoler; "but take care how
you tread, for the steps are somewhat worn, and you may chance to break
your necks some days before their time."

Though inclined to make merry at our expense, he held his torch so as to
afford sufficient light for us to see our way. The soldiers laughed
gruffly at his joke, bad as it was; and this made him attempt one or two
others of a similar character.

"The gentlemen have not perhaps been accustomed to live in a palace, but
they will find one here, with plenty of servants to attend on them; so I
must beg to congratulate them," he said, chuckling as he spoke. "They
will have plenty of playmates, though some of them will not remain very
long, I suspect. They have a way here of making a speedy clearance at
times."

We had now reached the bottom of the steps, and another small door,
plated with iron and secured with two stout iron bars, appeared before
us. The gaoler removed the bars, and taking a key from his girdle,
opened the door.

"Go in there, Senores," he said. "It is somewhat dark at present, but
you will get accustomed to it by-and-by."

Saying this, he forced us into the dungeon. I went in first, and
stumbled down a couple of steps, nearly falling on my face. While I was
holding out my hand to save Pedro from doing the same, the door was shut
behind us, and barred and bolted as before. We found ourselves in
almost total darkness, a small aperture near the ceiling alone affording
a dim gleam of light, which served to show us the gloomy horrors of the
place. Two massive pillars supported the low arched roof, which seemed
covered with moisture. The size of the place we could not tell, as the
darkness prevented our seeing the walls at either side. The floor was
unpaved, and composed of damp earth strewed with filth. We stood for
some minutes holding each other's hands, without speaking, and without
moving. We felt bewildered and stupified with the calamity which had
befallen us. Pedro was the first to recover himself.

"They cannot keep us here for ever," he said, breaking the long silence.
"Others have been in worse places, and have escaped. Let us hope,
Senor, for the best." He spoke in a cheerful tone, which had a reviving
effect upon me.

"We will hope for the best, Pedro," I excl