ad struck Stuart before. Indeed, he had done a
special article on the subject during the voyage on the steamer.

Reaching the wharf, Stuart sprang ashore. The Jamaican at once sought to
follow him, but the two Cacos tribesmen stepped forward with uplifted
machetes. The odds were too great and Stuart's ally fell back.

"It is very kind of you to come and pay us a visit!" mocked Manuel, as
Stuart stepped upon the wharf. "We prefer, however, to have you alone.
We do not know your guests."

"You know me, then?"

"I knew the ragged horse-boy to be Stuart Garfield, all the way on the
road to Millot and the Citadel," the Cuban purred. "I cannot
congratulate you on your cleverness. The disguise was very poor."

Stuart thrust forward his chin aggressively, but no retort came to
mind.

"I missed you, on the return journey," Manuel continued.

"Yes," the boy answered. "I came down another way."

"Perhaps you borrowed a pair of wings from the Englishman?"

Stuart made no reply.

But this ironic fencing was not to Leborge's taste. He broke in,
abruptly,

"You spy on us once, Yes! You spy on us again, Yes! You spy no more,
No!"

He made a rough gesture, at which one of the Cacos dashed upon the boy,
pinned his arms to his sides and harshly, but deftly, tied him securely
with a rope. This done, the Haitian took the boy's small revolver from
his pocket and cast it contemptuously on the ground.

"The white carries a pistol, Yes! But he does not even know how to shoot
it!"

The phrase irritated Stuart, but he had sense enough to keep still. As a
matter of fact, he was a fairly good shot, but, with four to one against
him, any attempt at violence would be useless. Besides, Stuart had not
lost heart. He had landed, in the very teeth of his foes, confident that
Fergus would never have directed him to go to the Mole St. Nicholas,
unless the editor had cause. The boy's only cue was to await
developments.

At this juncture, the Jamaican preacher, with a good deal of courage, as
well as dignity, rose in the boat. He thrust aside, as unimportant, the
machete of the Caco who threatened him, and the assumption of authority
took the guerilla aback. Quietly, and with perfect coolness, he walked
up to the Haitian general. A little to Stuart's surprise, he spoke the
Haitian dialect perfectly.

"You're goin' to untie de ropes 'round dat boy, Yes!" he declared, "an'
if you're wise, you do it quick. De Good Book say--'Dose who slay b