that direction as--I say it with deliberation,
senores--Don Manuel Rebiera, the acting Commandant of the military
forces? That, in my humble opinion, noble Capitan, is the man whom we
have to thank for this latest outrage; and I think--nay, I _hope_--
that--Heavens! I wonder whether the alcalde will have the courage--or,
rather, the _power_--to arrest him, Don Manuel having the soldiery at
his back."

"I had an interview with Don Manuel Rebiera, yesterday," remarked
George; "and I feel bound to admit that I observed a certain something
in his manner which to some extent justifies your suspicion of him. But
whoever may be the person responsible for last night's--or, rather, this
morning's--proceedings, I most fervently hope, for your sakes, senores,
that he will be speedily found and delivered into my hands; for I tell
you that somebody will have to pay very dearly indeed for them. I shall
do nothing rashly or hastily, senores--you may reassure yourselves upon
that point--but an act of basest, foulest treachery has been
perpetrated, and retribution must follow. If you can in any way,
whether by suggestion or otherwise, assist me to lay my hands upon the
culprit, or culprits, I strongly advise you to do so, for your own
sakes; for, failing the actual guilty parties, _you_, senores, are the
persons who will have to pay the penalty." And, so saying, George
passed on and into his own cabin, leaving the hostages almost as
profoundly perturbed as before.

Meanwhile, Basset, acting under Saint Leger's instructions, had caused a
boat to be lowered and manned by a strong crew, fully armed, and in her
had proceeded to board the plate ships, one after the other, with the
view of ascertaining who had been in command during the futile effort to
take them to sea, also to arrest those persons, whoever they might be,
and bring them aboard the _Nonsuch_. This task occupied fully two
hours; so that it was drawing well on toward breakfast time when at
length the boat returned, bringing with her seven men--the remainder
having somehow contrived to effect their escape to the shore--who
admitted having been in temporary command of the ships during the night.
These men George questioned immediately upon their arrival; when the
suspicion given expression to by one of the hostages an hour or two
earlier, was fully confirmed; the prisoners asserting that their written
orders--which they produced in confirmation of their story--had been