ion that the English
would be certain to exact, and the whole responsibility for which must
rest upon his shoulders--the unhappy man had retired to his private
office in the Government building, and, after writing and signing a
document acknowledging himself to be the sole culprit, had shot himself
through the head. To this piece of news the alcalde added the further
information that the soldiers, some eight hundred in number, infuriated
at the suicide of their chief, and the terrible affair of the previous
day at the Inquisition, for both of which occurrences they held the
English equally responsible, were practically in a state of mutiny, and
were parading the streets, fully armed, loudly announcing their
intention to kill any Englishman who dared to leave the shelter of his
ship and venture ashore. Further, it appeared that the citizens, about
equally alarmed at the violence of feeling displayed by the soldiers,
and the fear that the town would be bombarded in reprisal for the
outrage perpetrated by Don Manuel, had taken refuge in the cathedral and
the various churches, where, under the leadership of the priests, they
were offering up especial prayers for protection and deliverance.

"Very well, senor alcalde," said George, when that official had
completed his report; "you have made the state of affairs ashore
sufficiently clear for all practical purposes. Now, touching the matter
of the indemnity which I have demanded, what has been done with regard
to that?"

"Nothing--definite--so far--I regret to say," answered the alcalde,
haltingly. "Of course," he continued, "I have discussed the matter with
Don Manuel Rebiera, the late acting Commandant; but I found him
exceedingly difficult and untractable to deal with. When I first
broached the subject to him, I regret to say that he immediately fell
into a most violent rage, and declared, with quite unnecessary vigour,
that he would have nothing whatever to do with the payment of any
indemnity, however small; and when I pointed out to him that the lives
of twelve of our most important and valued citizens hung in the balance,
and might very possibly be sacrificed unless he displayed a very much
larger measure of pliability--well--I will not offend your ears, most
illustrious Capitan, by repeating his exact words, but I may tell you
they were to the effect that he would rather every hostage were hanged,
and the town itself laid in ruins, than suffer the humiliation of