They lost no time, these villainous Spaniards, in carrying out this
sentence. In front of the scaffold stood three stout iron posts, firmly
sunk in the ground, with fagots already piled about them, and to these
the unfortunate men were speedily bound, amidst the silence of the crowd
and the cries of the monks and Familiars, who pressed upon their
victims, bidding them repent and recant ere they were lost forever. But
to these murdering villains the three men answered naught, and presently
it was all over with them, and there was one more crime recorded against
Spain.

Then those of us who had been sentenced to so many lashes were led down
from the scaffold and placed upon horses, being stripped to the waist,
and having by them, every man, an executioner armed with a whip. Such of
us as had escaped this sentence were arranged in pairs behind, with our
halters still round our necks and our guards on either side of us.
Before the men who were to be whipped marched two criers, crying "Behold
these English dogs, Lutherans, enemies of God," and at intervals came
Familiars, such as Frey Bartolomeo, admonishing the executioners to lay
on and spare not. Then the procession started, and was conducted by the
criers through all the principal streets back to the great square, and
at every few steps the executioners laid on with their whips, fetching
blood at every stroke, so that to any man having aught of mercy and
compassion within him the spectacle was horrible and nauseating, though
to the Familiars and Inquisitors it seemed delightful enough.

Now, as we returned to the great square, this bloody work being over,
the throng pressed upon us so closely that for some few moments we were
unable to move, and while we stood there waiting for what would happen
next, there came to our side Captain Manuel Nunez, his evil eyes mocking
and sneering at us.

"So, Master Salkeld," said he, "it would seem that you have not
altogether escaped. Our Holy Office is merciful, Master Salkeld, yea,
sadly too merciful for my liking. But there are those of us, who know
not any mercy for Englishmen and heretics, as you shall find ere long,
both of you."

With that he vanished in the crowd, and presently Pharaoh and I were led
back to prison, wondering what his last words meant.

CHAPTER XIV.

ON BOARD THE GALLEY.

Being led back to the prison, Pharaoh and I found to our unspeakable joy
and astonishment that we were to be placed in on