t, having seen and suspected nothing. The Indian looked
inquiringly at the Englishmen, but they were unable to give him any
hint of their wants.

The day passed. The sky cleared; then the clouds gathered again, and
there was another deluge. Panama was flooded out. The sun went down
behind a black veil, but towards midnight the stars came out, and a
delightfully cool breeze swept in at the window to soothe the fevered
bodies within prison walls. What a chance of escape they had missed
during the noisy hours of the storm, when not a soul was abroad in the
place! Knowing the opportunity was there, they tried desperately to
force the door. But the feat was far beyond all the strength at their
command.

And the morning, delicious in its cool and fragrant freshness, brought
despair. The governor, who like the trees had drooped in the heat,
revived with the rain, and set about the duties of his position with
some vigour. The Englishmen were informed that when "siesta" was over
they would be brought into the castle hall for trial and judgment. The
flood had washed away their chances of escape. They solemnly and in
silence shook hands as men saying a long farewell.

Chapter XLIV.

THE TRIAL.

No bonds had been placed upon the limbs of the Englishmen since the day
when the Spanish captain had taken them out of the hands of Basil.
They walked unfettered to the judgment hall, and stood without shackles
before their judges. The court was crowded; it was not every day that
a band of terrible fire-eating Englishmen was on view in Panama.
Rumour spoke of them as friends and companions of Drake, and Spaniards
and Indians alike were eager to gaze upon the prisoners. The governor
was chief judge; beside him, on the one hand sat the deputy-governor,
and on the other was placed the chief ecclesiastical dignitary of the
colony. Basil stood by the cleric's side. Johnnie caught sight of
him, and stared him almost out of countenance. He had not seen him on
the day of his capture in the forest, but had caught glimpses of him on
the march. Recollections struggled in his mind. Where had he seen the
fellow before? Nick Johnson, too, felt that he had seen or heard of a
dark-eyed, sallow-faced fellow who resembled the man in court.

The proceedings opened, and the civil authorities formally charged the
prisoners with piracy and invasion of the territory of King Philip of
Spain. The bishop instantly opposed, and claime