ng could have been more appetizing,
in that smothering climate, consisting as it did wholly of fruit, and
delicious cocoa, including prepared rice, mandioc and cassava, the
last being the most popular food in that part of the world.

Juanita having left the meal, courtesied, called down the blessings of
the saints upon the visitors, and, assuring them that it would be her
happiness to come whenever wanted and to act the part of slave all her
life to them, went away, and once more our friends were alone. The
Senorita did not fasten the door, for there was no call to do so, and
in due time, the two drew up their chairs and partook of the food with
the zest of youth and health. There was abundance for both and they
fully enjoyed it. By and by, Juanita returned and removed the remains
of the repast.

Miss Starland walked to each of the narrow windows in turn and gazed
out over the surrounding country. One of the openings gave a view of
the Rio Rubio, as it wound to the eastward, until its reunion and
onward flow to the Atlantic. She descried a catboat leaning far over
and skimming up stream toward Atlamalco, and a canoe, in which were
two natives, was observed, as one of the occupants swung his paddle
like an American Indian and drove the tiny craft toward the northern
shore. But as her vision roved up and down the river, she failed to
see that for which she longed above everything else. The yacht which
had brought her to this part of the world was still absent. In neither
direction could she catch a glimpse of Atlamalco or Zalapata. The
other window opened to the south, or toward the mountains, where the
view had no interest for her.

As she had done before, she remarked upon the massiveness of the walls
and the straightness of the window openings.

"They are so narrow that we could not force ourselves through."

"Our old buccaneer friend must have had them made thus on purpose.
Suppose some of those who hated him--which means all the
others--should have become strong enough to clamber up the walls
on the outside,--was it not well to make it impossible for them
to enter the Castle?"

The matter, however, was of slight interest to our friends and they
hurried their preparations for the journey. The Senorita donned her
hat and led the way down the steps to the outside. To both it looked
as if the number of guards had been increased during the night, for
more than a dozen were in sight, without regarding those who had