l boat impelled by
the brawny arms of six swarthy Spaniards. With them were the English
prisoners: I saw the honest face of Captain Baulk, and next him worthy
Master Collins; also the three seamen of the Barbadian sloop; and
another, whom I did not know, but guessed to be the second of the two
unlucky messengers; and--in the midst of all--my dear love.

He lay full length, his white face resting against the good captain's
knees; and my first thought was one of terror lest he was dead: but I
saw him lift himself, and give one long look at the castle walls, then
fall back as before--and I knew, in that moment, he put me from his
heart for ever.

They were gone, all gone. Dona Orosia had played me false--God had
turned His face from me--and the man I loved would never love me more.

I turned away from the window to the weeping dame, and I laughed,
laughed again as I had done in the face of my dear love that very morn.

"The piece is near ended, dame," I said. "'Tis almost time to pray _God
save His Majesty_ and draw the curtain. But what strange tricks does
Fate play sometimes with her helpless puppets! She did cast us, long
ago, for a lightsome comedy, and lo! 'tis to be a tragedy instead! Think
you, dear Barbara, that death would come easier by means of yonder
bed-cord, or of those great scissors dangling at thy waist? Or, perhaps,
if thou couldst play Othello to my Desdemona, it might seem a gentler
prelude to the grave. How heavy is a lie, good dame? Think you it would
drag a soul to hell? If so, I need not to go alone; for if I lied to
Melinza, he also lied to me--and Dona Orosia also"--then a strong
shudder shook my frame. "Barbara, Barbara, must I e'en have their
company for all eternity?"

She ran to me, good soul, and hushed me like a child to her ample bosom.

"Lord help ye, dear lamb! And He will--He will!" I heard her say over
and over; then everything turned dark before my eyes, and I thought
death had come to me indeed.

When consciousness returned I lay upon my bed in a gray twilight, and
beside me were Dame Barbara and the Governor's wife.

As my eyes fell upon Dona Orosia, I cried out bitterly that I had been a
fool to trust even to her hate; for now she had grown weary of her
revenge, and would discard her tool without paying the price for it.

She covered my mouth with her hand, laughing shortly.

"Melinza thinks he has been too sharp for me. He despatched the
prisoners in great haste to the E