this! He would sink the miserable
craft or chase her to the foot of the Andes."

In the momentary reaction, Senorita Estacardo smiled:

"You have full faith in your countrymen."

"So have _you_; so has every one who knows them, and who does not? So
will General Yozarro and his barbarians, if they ever rouse the anger
of my people. But why do we speculate? It seems we can do nothing but
wait. Manuela, can we not steal away when night comes?"

"I have asked myself that question, but I cannot see any hope of doing
it. Neither of us can leave without being observed; guards will be on
all sides and we shall be turned back as we were this morning. Let us
go to the upper part of the Castle and look over the country. It may
avail nothing, but it will be a relief to this monotony."

They climbed to the rooms above, which, as we know, were copies of
those they had just left, with the narrow windows on all sides. The
Senorita walked to the opening on the south which commanded a view of
the densely wooded mountains that stretched clear across the island
to the main branch of the Rio Rubio. She expected to see nothing in
that direction of interest and made the survey because her companion
passed to the windows on the north.

"Come to me!" called the American; "here is something strange."

The Senorita was at her side on the instant. Looking across the mile
of rugged country to where the northern stream wound its way, they saw
a small sailboat speeding to the eastward, the moderate breeze causing
it to careen far to one side. Its prow cut the curling water and the
foam spread out like a fan in its wake.

"If we had a glass we might study it closely," said Miss Starland
regretfully, as she scrutinized the craft.

"I don't think there is anything of the kind in the Castle, but it can
make little difference. The boat is a strange one to us, and whoever
is guiding it is no concern of ours."

"Probably you are right, but it looks to me as if there are two or
three aboard,--ah! there are three and they are heading toward shore.
They must land near where we left the boat last night."

"And what of that?"

"It looks as if they are coming to the Castle; they will soon be
here!"

"That does not seem likely to me; the only ones whom we expect are
General Yozarro and his friends, and so long as he has the larger
craft, he will not use such a puny boat as that."

CHAPTER XIX.

The American did not reply, but held her g