er, being too unwell to meet
the family at noon. Thither his Excellency ascended with reluctant steps
and slow, like a child called from his play to be whipped and sent to
bed. He found his niece reclining upon a sofa, pale, languid, and
evidently much agitated. She rose to receive him with her accustomed
affection, and the old Don seated himself by her side.

"Isabella, my love, you appear to be distressed; what is the matter,
child?"

"Dear uncle, my cousin Antonia tells me dreadful news."

"Dreadful news! what is it, dearest?" "She tells me," said Isabella,
shuddering and gasping for breath, "that these unfortunate Americans are
to be put to death to-morrow morning."

"Poh, poh! what nonsense! you know as well as I do that the law gives me
no such power."

"But, dearest uncle, why should they be punished at all? nothing is
proved against them, nothing is found about them that indicates guilty
intentions," for, notwithstanding her indisposition, she had learned all
the facts of the case from her gossip, Juanita, and the officers that
had called in the course of the forenoon, "I have heard all the
particulars, and confess that I see no reason why they deserve
punishment at all."

"You know nothing at all about the matter, child. They have been seen,
at other times than last night, landing boxes and bales at the same
place."

"Are you quite sure that it was not some other persons?"

The governor paid no attention to this question, which he had never
dreamt of asking his informer.

"Besides, if these are pardoned, other offenders will plead their
innocence, and refer to the case of these men as a precedent. No,
Isabella, I cannot, I dare not do it; they must abide by the
consequences."

"Then if their lives are to be spared, what is to be done with them?"

"I shall write to the Viceroy, and keep them confined till I receive his
instructions as to their future destiny."

"And that," said the young lady, in a faint voice, "will be worse than
death! O think of it, dear, dear uncle."

"You take too gloomy a view of the case," said Don Gaspar, kissing the
forehead of the lovely suppliant; "the Viceroy may pardon them, but I
dare not--You plead in vain," continued he, as he saw she was about to
speak; "were they my own sons, they should undergo the sentence of the
law for their misconduct."

Fearing to excite her uncle's suspicions by too great urgency, Isabella
changed her battery--

"At least, let them b