quainting that gentleman with the
bare facts of the rescue and Dona Isolda's death. Then he allowed the
crew to take a couple of boats and go fishing, while he devoted himself
to the arduous task of comforting and consoling his friends as best he
could; indeed, that had been his chief occupation from the moment when
the Montijos had first come on board the yacht from the convict ship.
Nor were his efforts altogether unavailing, although it was exceedingly
difficult to find words of comfort for those whose hearts were still
bleeding from the tragic loss of the being who was dearest to them all.
With the Senora Montijo Jack was much more successful than with her
husband and son, for the poor soul's reason was entirely gone, and to
such an extent, indeed, that she seemed to have completely forgotten
every circumstance connected with their recent misfortunes, appearing to
merely remember Jack as someone with whom certain pleasant memories,
vaguely recalled, were connected, and in whose society she therefore
took pleasure. She very rarely spoke, never rationally, but was content
to walk fore and aft the deck by the hour, with her hand on Jack's
supporting arm and her eyes gazing dreamily at the deck planks. She
took even more pleasure in Jack's society than she did in that of her
husband and son, both of whom were at this time gloomy, saturnine,
silent brooders upon revenge.

On the second day after their arrival in Guantanamo harbour there came a
letter from Don Ramon, briefly congratulating Jack upon his success and
the Montijos upon their deliverance, and requesting them to remain where
they were for the present, as he had been unable to gather any definite
news, but was busily conducting a number of enquiries. Then, after the
lapse of a full week, there came another letter from the same source,
informing them that the writer had received a communication from Senor
Calderon, Don Hermoso's manager, stating that Senor Alvaros--now
promoted to the rank of major--had appeared at the hacienda with the
intelligence that Don Hermoso and his family, having been found guilty
of the crime of conspiracy against the Spanish Government, had been
shipped off to Fernando Po for life; and the estates, having been
sequestrated, had been given to him as a reward for meritorious service:
furthermore, that, Senor Calderon having had long experience in the
management of the estate, Major Alvaros was disposed to allow him to
retain the pos