aim for extradition which would follow me to a foreign country! Am I
to live for that? No! Never!"

"Father," interrupted Benito, whose mind threatened to give way before
such obstinacy, "you shall fly! I will have it so!" And he caught hold
of Joam Dacosta, and tried by force to drag him toward the window.

"No! no!"

"You wish to drive me mad?"

"My son," exclaimed Joam Dacosta, "listen to me! Once already I
escaped from the prison at Villa Rica, and people believed I fled from
well-merited punishment. Yes, they had reason to think so. Well, for the
honor of the name which you bear I shall not do so again."

Benito had fallen on his knees before his father. He held up his hands
to him; he begged him:

"But this order, father," he repeated, "this order which is due
to-day--even now--it will contain your sentence of death."

"The order may come, but my determination will not change. No, my son!
Joam Dacosta, guilty, might fly! Joam Dacosta, innocent, will not fly!"

The scene which followed these words was heart-rending. Benito struggled
with his father. Manoel, distracted, kept near the window ready to carry
off the prisoner--when the door of the room opened.

On the threshold appeared the chief of the police, accompanied by the
head warder of the prison and a few soldiers. The chief of the police
understood at a glance that an attempt at escape was being made; but he
also understood from the prisoner's attitude that he it was who had
no wish to go! He said nothing. The sincerest pity was depicted on his
face. Doubtless he also, like Judge Jarriquez, would have liked Dacosta
to have escaped.

It was too late!

The chief of the police, who held a paper in his hand, advanced toward
the prisoner.

"Before all of you," said Joam Dacosta, "let me tell you, sir, that it
only rested with me to get away, and that I would not do so."

The chief of the police bowed his head, and then, in a voice which he
vainly tried to control:

"Joam Dacosta," he said, "the order has this moment arrived from the
chief justice at Rio Janeiro."

"Father!" exclaimed Manoel and Benito.

"This order," asked Joam Dacosta, who had crossed his arms, "this order
requires the execution of my sentence?"

"Yes!"

"And that will take place?"

"To-morrow."

Benito threw himself on his father. Again would he have dragged him
from his cell, but the soldiers came and drew away the prisoner from his
grasp.

At a sign from the chief