is too much for me," declared Mr. Hampton.

"Dad, we'll have to break down the door. The government troops are
attacking. Even if we do make a lot of noise, it may go unnoticed.
Have you a heavy chair you can use?"

"Yes," answered his father. "But, wait. Government troops attacking,
hey? Then that is the meaning of those shots which caused Don
Fernandez to leave me so hurriedly."

"No, Dad, those first shots were when they sounded the alarm on
discovering me."

"They discovered you?" Mr. Hampton groaned in mock dismay. "Oh, this
is too much. But, Jack, what I started to say was that as Don
Fernandez dashed down the steps, I heard him drop something in his
haste that rang on the stones. Maybe that was the key."

"I'll look."

Jack stood upright, and communicated to the impatient Rafaela what his
father had said. She had been unable to hear. Fortunately, he carried
an electric torch. Swinging this so that the light fell on the steps,
he started downward. Before he had gone three steps, the girl's quick
eyes saw the key gleam in the light. She snatched it up with an
exclamation, turned, inserted it in the keyhole, and the door swung
in.

Jack leaped through the opening, and the tall and handsome man, to
whom he bore so striking a resemblance, enfolded him in his arms.

"My boy, my boy. I can hardly believe it."

"But it's true, Dad."

They drew apart and stood looking at each other. There was more than a
suspicion of moisture in each pair of eyes.

Mr. Hampton's gaze fell on Rafaela, with whom he had had a number of
pleasant conversations during his captivity. He dropped a hand on her
shoulder.

"My dear girl," he said. "You never did a kinder deed. I hope you will
not have cause to regret it."

"Oh," said she with an arch smile. "Papa would be furious if he
discovered what I have done. But I can manage him."

The older man smiled. He had observed the managerial process at work.

"But you must not delay," added Rafaela, anxiously. "Even now the
firing seems to be farther away. My father keeps many soldiers here.
And he is, doubtless, driving away the attacking party. You must go
quickly before he returns, and while all is confusion."

"She is right, Dad," said Jack. "Let's go. Anything you want to take
with you?"

"No, nothing. But how are we to escape, Jack? How did you arrive?"

"I arrived by airplane," said Jack. "But whether we can get away by
the same means is another matter."

Mr. Hampton