t why? Surely there must be a reason! Tell me what they said. Try
to be calm, Rosa; your father's life may depend on your words."

"I know nothing. How should I? I was in bed. My father sat there
writing when they broke into the house. The servants fled, and hid
themselves like frightened sheep. The cowards! I dressed and ran
here. My father had killed one ruffian, but--but he could not struggle
against so many."

"I'll wager that he showed himself a brave man."

"He did; but they overcame him," she continued, speaking more calmly.
"They bound him with cords: he was helpless. I begged the big bandit
to release him; I would have gone on my knees--I, a daughter of the
Montillas!" and she drew herself up proudly.

"But the chief, Rosa--what did he say?"

"That my father was charged with a serious offence, and that he must be
tried by the officers of the Silver Key. Think of that, Juan
Crawford!--my father tried for his life by those dirty bandits! Oh,
how I wish I was a man! Then they took him away. I was alone and
friendless; I thought of you, and told the coachman to drive me to
Lima. Then I remembered you were one of these people, and would have
turned back. But my father's life is precious; I would beg it even of
an enemy. O Juan, Juan, save him for me!"

She broke down utterly. I tried to comfort her, and failed. She did
nothing but cry, "Save him, Juan, save him!"

[Illustration: "Save him, Juan, save him!"]

I had no faith in my power to help her, but I could not tell her so.
Why Raymon Sorillo had done this I knew no more than she--unless,
indeed, he had discovered Don Felipe conspiring with the Royalists. In
that case, perhaps, I might prevail on him to spare the prisoner's
life, and to restore him to liberty when the war was over. It was only
a tiny spark of hope, but I made the most of it.

"Listen, Rosa," I said cheerfully. "I do not belong to this society of
which you speak, but its chief will do much for me. I will go to him
now and use all my influence. I will beg him earnestly to spare your
father's life, and I think he may grant it me. Cheer up, Rosa! In a
few days I shall return and bring your father with me, most likely."

"O Juan, how shall I ever thank you! Forget the wild words I said to
you. I was distracted with fear and anger; I did not mean them, Juan!"

"No, no," I answered soothingly; "I have forgotten them already. Now
go to bed; I must start at once.