sack the
town, while by stating that a considerable body of troops might be
momentarily expected to arrive he hoped to frighten the insolent
strangers into immediate abandonment of the town, without waiting to
sack it.

And he had every reason to congratulate himself that his ruse had been
successful, for George's first words when he returned to the room
occupied by the two Spaniards were:

"Your Excellency, the news which Senor Montalvo has brought from Panama
has caused me to very materially modify my plans. When you were
preparing your dispatch to his Excellency the Governor of Panama, I gave
you to understand that in the event of Don Silvio's refusal to entertain
my proposals, I would sack and destroy the city of Nombre de Dios. But
since then I have had time for reflection; I have come to recognise that
it would be unfair of me to visit Don Silvio's obstinacy too severely
upon you and your town; moreover, I am in hopes that by further
correspondence with him he may be brought to see the desirability of
saving you and Nombre by a merely nominal sacrifice on his part;
therefore, after consultation with my officers, I have decided to spare
Nombre for the present, and to withdraw from it in order to afford you
time for further negotiations with Don Silvio. But before withdrawing I
intend to take the precaution of destroying this battery, so that upon
my return I shall, at least, not have it to contend with. And,
understand me, your Excellency, I shall return again, but not until the
soldiers now expected have been withdrawn from the town. That must
certainly happen soon, and when it does you may expect to see me back,
for I shall find means to learn everything of importance that happens in
Nombre. And when I next come, my visit will be a final one; for unless
you are then prepared to hand me over the seventeen prisoners I have
asked for, I will not leave one stone of Nombre upon another. You will
kindly remain here until I am ready to evacuate the battery, when you
will be free to return to Government House."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

HOW THE ENGLISHMEN MARCHED ACROSS THE ISTHMUS TO PANAMA.

As Saint Leger quitted the room Senor Montalvo gave vent to a chuckle of
delighted self-gratulation, much to the surprise, and somewhat to the
annoyance, of his Excellency, Don Sebastian Salvador Alfonso de
Albareda, Governor of the city of Nombre de Dios.

"Senor Montalvo," he said austerely, "you are surely forgetting