must split asunder.

How much longer would it be, he wondered dully, before the coxswain in
charge of the _Blanco Encalada's_ steam-launch became anxious about his
long absence, and instituted inquiries, or returned to the flagship with
the news? Admiral Williams was certainly not the man to allow to pass
unchallenged such a gross violation of International Law as the seizure
and imprisonment of a properly accredited envoy; but then, the people
who had been guilty of this outrage had doubtless acted unofficially,
and the _intendente_ would consequently deny all knowledge of the
business. Surely, though--

But by this time Jim's thoughts had become more and more confused, and
his brain was refusing to act coherently. Flashes of lurid light passed
before his eyes, and the horrible feeling of suffocation became ever
more and more acute. Finally, with what he fancied was a shout for
assistance, but it was, in reality, only a weak whisper, Jim lost
consciousness altogether, and rolled from his couch on to the floor,
where he lay like a log, breathing stertorously.

Almost at the same moment a section of the book-case surrounding the
room moved inward, apparently of its own volition, and two men, one of
whom was the man Lopes, crept cautiously into the apartment. Hastily
seizing Jim's inanimate body by the arms and legs, they dragged him out
of the room, carried him down a long narrow passage and, opening the
door of another room, took him inside and placed him on a bed which it
contained.

"What a time the youngster took to go off, Manuel!" said the second
fellow, addressing Lopes while he industriously searched Jim's pockets.
"I hope we have not given him an overdose, and killed him; for I expect
the information that we shall extract from him will be worth a great
deal more than that contained in the papers which he is sure to carry.
By the way, I wonder where they can be? They are certainly not in his
pockets. You are certain you have not made a mistake, _amigo mio_, and
got hold of the wrong man?"

"_Carrajo_! no," exclaimed Lopes testily. "This is the fellow, without
doubt; I watched him all the way from the ship. Here, lend me your
knife, and I will rip up his clothes; he is certain to have suspected
treachery after I locked him in, and will have secreted the documents
somewhere. Ah! here they are. Now, read them out to me, Carlos, while
I try to bring the _hijo_ round."

There was silence for a few m