e!" The
benignant and joyous expression of Mr. Smith's face, as he vainly
elevated the angle of the flask in expectation of the anticipated
draught, assumed an exceedingly puzzled and bewildered expression. He
peered into the opaque tin vessel; pushed his little finger into its
neck to remove the loose cork or other substance that impeded the genial
flow; then shook it, and listened curiously for a splash or gurgle. Not
a sound! Coralie had drained it to the last drop! Mr. Smith looked with
comical earnestness at Jeannette, who burst into a fit of uncontrollable
laughter.

"Madame is thirsty," she said, as soon as she could catch sufficient
breath: "it must be so hot in there."

"A full pint!" said the captain, still in blank astonishment, "and
strong--very!"

The approach of the carter interrupted what he further might have had to
say, and in a few minutes the journey was resumed. The captain fell into
a reverie which was not broken till the cart again stopped. The chest
was then glided gently to the ground: the driver, who had been
previously paid, turned the heads of his team toward Badajoz, and with a
brief salutation departed homeward.

Jeanette was stooping over the chest, conversing in a low tone with her
mistress, and Captain Smith surveyed the position in which he found
himself with some astonishment. No house, much less a church or village
was visible, and not a human being was to be seen.

"Captain Smith," said Jeannette, approaching the puzzled warrior with
some hesitation, "a slight contretemps has occurred. The friends who
were to have met us here, and helped to convey our precious charge to a
place of safety, are not, as you perceive, arrived: perhaps they do not
think it prudent to venture quite so far."

"It is quite apparent they are not here," observed Mr. Smith; "but why
not have proceeded in the cart?"

"What, captain! Betray your and madame's secret to yonder Spanish boor.
How you talk!"

"Well, but my good girl, what _is_ to be done? Will madame get out and
walk?"

"Impossible--impossible!" ejaculated the amiable damsel. "We should be
both recognized, dragged back to that hateful Badajoz, and madame would
be shut up in a convent for life. It is but about a quarter of a mile,"
added Jeannette, in an insinuating, caressing tone, "and madame is not
so _very_ heavy."

"The devil!" exclaimed Mr. Smith, taken completely aback by this
extraordinary proposal. "You can't mean that I should ta