e
in the morning. We need not bring the prisoners forth until we are ready."

Alvarez, slept peacefully that night. He had recovered his spirits, shaken
by the arrival of the King's messenger. Aided by the dexterous renegade,
Braxton Wyatt, he would soon persuade Bernardo Galvez that he had acted
for the best in the matter of the men from Kaintock.

He rose early the next morning and, as a mark of signal favor, invited
Braxton Wyatt to take breakfast with him. While they sat together Luiz
came in with a long face.

"Now what is it, my brave Luiz?" said Alvarez, who was in an exceeding
good humor, "why this saturnine countenance?"

"I beg to report, your Excellency," said Luiz, "that the Natchez Indian
whom they call The Cat had been found dead in the forest, of a knife
thrust that came out behind the shoulder."

"That is bad," said Alvarez. "Have they found out who did it?"

"No, Your Excellency. There were some signs of a struggle, and a few
traces of foot-steps, but the trail was gone before they had followed it a
dozen yards."

"We have lost a good man," said Alvarez, "a matchless spy and trailer, but
it cannot be helped. I suppose it was a quarrel with some savage like
himself. I would investigate the matter, but we have not time now. Come,
Luiz, we will take out the prisoners, and then to the boats."

He led the way across the grass to the log house,--two sentinels, again it
was Carlos and Juan--walked up and down in front of it--and the Spanish
captain was pleased at their vigilance. He gave them a very good morning
as they saluted respectfully.

"Unlock the door, Luiz," he said. "This is a strong prison and a close
one. I've no doubt our gallants from Kaintock, where there is much room,
will be glad to be outside again."

Luiz inserted the huge iron key, turned it in the lock, and threw wide the
door. Alvarez looked in, and then uttered a cry so charged with rage that
even Braxton Wyatt was startled. He pressed close up to his chief and
gazed over his shoulder.

The prison was empty!

"What does this mean?" shouted Alvarez at the trembling sentinels. "The
prisoners have escaped! Idiots! Blind men! What have you been doing? Have
you helped them yourselves? If it is so, both of you shall be shot!"

The unfortunates, Carlos and Juan, stared at the empty prison and crossed
themselves. "Witchcraft," muttered Carlos, the readier of the two. "We
have watched faithfully all night, my captain. We saw nothin