e-gun brig had made.

"Tell him that I mean what I say," added Murray, observing the evident
consternation of the mongrel Spaniards, and seeing that now was the time
to carry matters with a high hand.

"What prisoners are they you wish us to liberate?" asked the general.

"All the British subjects you lately captured on board two merchantmen
in the harbour of Sapote, two of them being officers of the Queen of
England's navy, with other passengers, the rest being officers and crews
of the two vessels."

"The vessels were captured while engaged in illegal practices, and some
of the prisoners you speak of it is beyond my power to deliver into your
hands," answered General Carmona; "the vessels and those on board them
were legally condemned."

"We must settle about the equity of their seizure afterwards," said
Murray; "my duty, in the meantime, is to obtain the restoration of the
vessels, and the liberation of those of whom I have spoken."

"I regret to inform you that some of them have met the fate they
deserve, of traitors and rebels, and have been shot," answered the
general, mustering up his courage to make this announcement.

"Shot!" exclaimed Murray, in a tone of deep anxiety, as the consul
interpreted the general's last remark; "inquire who they are that have
been thus treated," said Murray.

"The officers and others found on board the two vessels. The common
seamen were not worth the powder and shot, or they would have met the
same fate," answered the general, with as much _sang-froid_ as he could
command.

Murray could hardly restrain his indignation on hearing this, for he
could not doubt that Colonel O'Regan was among the sufferers; he
thought, especially, of the grief into which Stella would be plunged,
and he was more than ever resolved to carry matters with a high hand.

"Tell the general that his ships are under the guns of my brig, and that
I have left orders with the officers in command to blow them up should I
not return with the prisoners within two hours."

"You speak very boldly, sir!" exclaimed the general; "suppose I were to
treat you as I have done your countrymen--shoot you."

"Then my countrymen would very soon arrive with their ships of war, and
not only knock your town about your ears, but hang up you and every
officer they may catch at their yard-arms," answered Murray.

The Spaniards, so they may be called, pulled their moustaches, and the
remark had, evidently, its due effect.