the irons, and Henry sat down again in
his chair. The threatened ignominy had stung him deeply and he said under
his breath: "I thank you, Father Montigny." Then Alvarez ordered Henry to
be taken away, also.

Henry arose without resistance, and walked from the hall with the
soldiers. As he passed, Father Montigny put his hand on his shoulder and
said: "I am your friend, my son."

Henry said nothing but gave him a look of deep gratitude as he walked
proudly out.

CHAPTER XII

THE SHADOW IN THE FOREST

Luiz and his comrades escorted Henry back to the prison, and the
expressive face of Luiz showed pleasure. He made a vigorous pantomime and
spoke words in Spanish.

"Yes, I understand your meaning if not your language, my friend," said
Henry, "and I thank you. I am glad to know that I have your good will."

When the door of his prison was thrown open and Henry was then shut in
again with his comrades they looked at him expectantly.

"Well?" said Paul.

"What happened?" said Long Jim.

"Anything to tell?" said Tom Ross.

"How's your shoulder, Paul?" asked Henry.

"Fast getting well," replied Paul, who knew that his comrade would speak
in his own good time.

Henry sat on the floor and leaned against the wall in as comfortable a
position as he could assume. Then he looked rather humorously at his
comrades.

"Alvarez wanted to bribe me," he said.

"To bribe you? What do you mean?"

"Yes, to bribe me--and all of us together. He wanted us to serve him here
in Louisiana, and help him in an attempt to bring over Kentucky to Spain."

"That is, he wanted to make Braxton Wyatts out of us?" said Paul.

"You put it exactly right, Paul," said Henry, "I laughed at him, and
called him by the names that belonged to him. He brought in Braxton Wyatt
and the soldiers and ordered me to be put in irons, there in his
presence."

"What!" exclaimed Paul, "did he dare that, too?"

"Yes. His object, of course, was to humiliate me--and all of us. It was
stopped by one who came in at the right moment. You couldn't guess who it
was."

"It must a-been Shif'less Sol," said Long Jim, whose mind ran to physical
deeds. "I guess he sent a bullet right into the middle uv that rascal
crew. Sol's the boy to be right on the spot when he's needed."

Henry laughed.

"No, Jim," he said. "That's a pretty wild guess. It was none other than
Father Montigny, the man whom we helped. He paid us back sooner than we
thought. You ought