ntance of his cousin, of whom, till that
moment, however, he had never heard, while Jack gladly accepted the
invitation offered him. While they were speaking Don Antonio was
summoned on a matter of importance.

"I regret that I cannot accompany you at present," he said, on his
return; "I have therefore written to announce your coming, and have
ordered horses, with a servant to show you the way. They will be here
presently, and in the meantime you must fortify yourselves for the
journey with some tiffin."

He led his visitors to a large airy upper room looking out over the
gulf. In the centre was a table spread with all sorts of West-Indian
delicacies, and wines and spirits, and bottled beer. A person must go
to a hot climate to appreciate the latter liquid properly. Several
persons looked in, and took their seats at table as if it was a
customary thing. Some apparently were resident planters; others
skippers of merchantmen, and there were several foreigners, who spoke
only Spanish or French.

One of the last comers was a fine military-looking man, with a handsome
countenance, a few grey hairs sprinkling his otherwise dark hair and
moustache. Don Antonio introduced him to the two lieutenants as Colonel
O'Regan. The naval officers rose and bowed, and the Colonel taking his
seat opposite to them at once, as a man of the world, entered into
conversation.

"Colonel O'Regan has seen a good deal of service in the Peninsula and
elsewhere," observed Don Antonio to Adair; "knew your uncle, Major
Adair, and was with Sir Ralph Abercromby when this island changed
masters, I must confess very much to its advantage."

The colonel heard the last remark. "I was a mere boy at the time,
having only just joined my regiment," he observed, with a smile. "It
was not a very hazardous expedition, and had there been any fighting the
navy would have borne the brunt of it; but the gallant Spanish Admiral
Apodaca, whose memory is not held in the highest repute hereabouts, as
soon as he saw the British fleet, having landed his men, set fire to
four of his ships, and galloped off, that he might be the first to
convey the intelligence to the Governor Chacon, who was preparing to
defend the city from the expected assault. He entered at the head of a
band of priests, piously counting his rosary. `Burnt your ships,
admiral!' exclaimed Chacon, in astonishment. `Then I fear all is lost.'
`Oh, no, most noble governor, all is not lost, I a