"HE FLUNG HIMSELF ON HIS FACE ON THE STONY FLOOR, AND LAY THERE LONG."-[SEE PAGE 756.] Then came a whisper: "Assebi!" No one heard. The sleepers were all far away in the land of dreams. The whisper was repeated: "Assebi!" There was no answer. Nor did any of the sleepers awake. Out of such a sound sleep nothing could awaken them that was of the nature of a mere whisper. Of course this moving body was our friend Dolores. There is no need to make a mystery of it. She alone now had access to this room; she alone would come here. She alone, having come here, would utter that one word, 'Assebi !" It was Dolores. She had come back to this room to seek after Ashby; to see him; if not, then to hear of him; and, if possible, to help him. After assisting "his Majesty" to effect his escape, Dolores had thought for a few moments of surrendering herself. After further thought, however, she had concluded not to. She saw that nothing could be gained and much would be risked by such an act. The knowledge which she had of all the interior of the castle gave her an immense advantage so long as she was free; and until she saw how things were it would be better for her to remain free. There would be great danger in confiding too readily. She knew that the Republicans were no better than the Carlists, and perhaps these were merely a rival band of the same ferocious marauders. Ashby, being a foreigner, was perhaps in as great danger as ever; and if so, she should preserve her freedom, so as to be able to help him. After waiting until the noise in the castle had ceased, Dolores approached the room and reached the place of descent. Here she stopped and listened. She heard the deep breathing of the sleepers. By this she knew that several men were now in the room. But was Ashby there? That he was not asleep she felt sure. He would be expecting her, at any rate, and that would serve to keep him awake. She determined to try still further. So she began, as cautiously as possible, to make the descent. She succeeded in doing this without waking any of the sleepers. For a while she stood in the deep impenetrable shadow, and surveyed the apartment. She saw, where the moonbeams fell, the outlines of figures on the floor and on the bed. The remoter parts of the chamber were hid in gloom. Then she called, in a low and penetrating whisper, "Assebi!" There was no answer. Dolores conjectured that Ashby was not there; but, in order to fully assure herself, she repeated the call. There was still no answer; and now Dolores felt certain that he had been taken away. Once more she determined to satisfy herself as to the people who were in the VOL. LXVII.-No. 401.-47 room. It was a hazardous thing to do, but it had to be done. She must see. She had matches in her pocket. She resolved to throw a little light on the subject. She struck a match. The flame burst forth. Holding it above her head, Dolores peered into the room. The flame illumined the whole apartment. A second or two was enough to show her the whole. There were six men. They were Carlists. They were prisoners. Ashby had been taken away. So much was plain enough. Ashby was not there. He had been removed-but how? That was the question, and a most important one. Was he free, or was he still a prisoner? This must be ascertained before Dolores could decide anything. Gliding swiftly and noiselessly to the nearest sleeper, Dolores caught his hair, and giving it a sudden violent pull, she darted back quickly, before she could be discovered. It was effectual. The sleeper started up with a violent oath, and began abusing his comrade. This one also awaked, and a fierce altercation went on between them, wherein the one charged the other with pulling his hair, and the other denied it with oaths. In the midst of this Dolores had ascended into the passageway, and stood there waiting for a chance to be heard. At length the noise subsided, and the two began to settle themselves for sleep, when Dolores, seizing the opportunity, called out, in a low but clear and distinct voice, Viva el Rey!" 66 The Carlists heard it. 66 What's that?" cried one. "Some one's in the room," cried the other. "Viva el Rey!" said Dolores once more, in the same tone. At this the two men started to their feet. "Who goes there?" said one, in a low voice. "A friend," said Dolores. "Where?" asked the man in surprise. "Come to the chimney," said Dolores. The two men went there, till they reached the fire-place. "Where are you?" asked they. Dolores did not think it necessary to tell them the truth just yet. "I'm in the room above," said she. "I'm speaking through an opening in the flue. I can help you, if you will be cau- "No," said the Carlist, wondering what sort of a prisoner this could be, and why this prisoner asked after the Englishman. Dolores questioned them further, and the men told all they knew. They had overheard the words that had passed between Ashby and Lopez, and told what they had heard. sweet and painful. She sat with clasped hands and bowed head, looking care-worn. dejected, and utterly miserable; and it was in this state of mind that Lopez found her on the following morning. He felt again disappointed (in fact, Lopez was apparently always feeling disappointed), though why he should feel so is somewhat singular, since Katie would have been more than human, or less, if she had shown a joyous face in such a situation. Lopez gave a sigh by way of salutation. Katie did not look up, but knew perfectly well who it was and what he wanted. "I hope you have found this room more comfortable than the last," he began, after the usual salutation. "I'm sure I don't see what comfort one can expect in such a place as this," was the reply. 66 From these Dolores gained new light upon the facts of the case. Having been a witness to the scene in the station at Madrid, she at once perceived that this enemy of Ashby's could be no other than that man in civilian dress, but of military aspect, with whom he had had the quarrel, who had been forced to leave the "I'm sorry that I haven't anything bet Russells' carriage. This man had trav-ter to offer," said Lopez. Anything that elled in the same train. He had been cap- is in my power to grant I will do for you." tured, plundered, and then set free with the other Spaniards. Dolores conjectured that he had obtained some soldiers, surprised the castle, and freed Katie. She also felt sure that Ashby was now a prisoner once more, in the hands, not of a mere robber, but of his bitterest enemy. "Those are merely idle words," said Katie. "There is one thing, and one only, that I wish, and that you can give: that one thing you have no right to keep from me, and yet it is useless to ask you for it." "Useless-oh, do not say that! Tell me what it is." "My freedom," said Katie, earnestly. "Freedom!" said Lopez; "why, you are free-free as a bird!" "Yes, as a bird in a cage," was the bitter reply. "Ladies must always be under some restraint," said Lopez: otherwise you are perfectly free." "This, sir," said Katie, hotly, "I consider insult; it is nothing less than mockery at my distress. Is it freedom to be locked up in a cell and cut off from all my The men readily promised this. "But why can't we go now? why can't friends?" you help us now?" they asked. "We can't go away from this," said Dolores, without the English prisoner. But with him we shall surely escape; so be ready to act when I give the word." CHAPTER XLII. HOW KATIE FEELS DEJECTED, AND HOW THERE is no need to enlarge upon Katie's feelings, as she sat in her lonely chamber, buried in thoughts which were both Lopez gave a gasp. He was anxious to please Katie, yet this was a bad, a very bad beginning. "Why," said he, "where can you go?" "You will not even let me go about the castle," said Katie. "If you barred your gates, and let me move about inside, even then it would be imprisonment; but you lock me in this cell, and then you come to mock me." 66 Great Heaven!" said Lopez. "Oh. señorita! won't you understand? Let me explain. This castle is full of rough, rude men. It would not be safe for you to move about. They are not trained servants; they are brutal and fierce. If you went among them you would be exposed to insult." them before they could get their arms. Over and over again I risked my life in the fight that followed, while pressing forward in my eagerness to find you before they could get you off. I found you at last. "My attendant comes and goes," said Katie; "she is not insulted. Why may II was full of joy and triumph at the not be at least as free as she is?" "Because," said Lopez, "you are a lady; she is only a common woman. Things would be insults to you which she only laughs at. I can not allow you to expose yourself to the brutal ribaldry of the ruffians below. If a father had his daughter here he would lock her up, as I do you, out of affection." At this Katie turned her head away, with the air of one who was utterly incredulous, and felt the uselessness of argument. Lopez was silent for a few moments. Then he went on. thought of rescuing you from a loathsome captivity. Judge of my surprise and bitter disappointment when I saw you so indifferent, when you met me so coolly, and, instead of showing gratitude, seemed rather angry at me than otherwise." Lopez paused here to see the effect of his eloquent speech. Katie looked up. "It was not captivity, as you call it," said she; "and if it was, it was not loathsome. That word, señor, is far more applicable to my present condition." "You don't know," said Lopez. "You can't understand. You must have been under some fatal misapprehension. Is it possible that you were ignorant of the character of your captor-a mere brigand -one who pretends to be a Carlist mere them and hold them to ransom? Have you been all this time in such ignorance?" "No, señor; I knew in whose hands I had fallen-he is a man of honor." "A man of honor!" cried Lopez, in amazement. "Señor, you can not know yet who he is. I must tell you. He is the King of, Spain-his Majesty King Charles!" "Don Carlos!" cried Lopez. "Listen," said he, "and see if you have reason to be angry with me. Let me tell you some little of what I have done. But for me you would still be a prisoner in the hands of a remorseless villain, a commonly that he may rob passengers, or capture brigand. Listen to me, I entreat you, and then tell me if you are right in blaming me. As soon as I was freed I hurried on to Vitoria, the nearest military station. I had but one idea-the rescue of you from the hands of those villains. At Vitoria, after incredible effort, I succeeded in getting a detachment of men from the commandant. With these I set forth on the following morning, trying to find my way to you. It was an almost impossible task. The country, never thickly inhabited, was literally deserted. I could find no one to ask, and could find no trace of your captors anywhere. I did, however, what I could, and sought everywhere most painfully and perseveringly. At length, just as I was beginning to despair, chance-the merest chance-threw in my way a couple of fugitives. These, fortunately, were able to give me the information I wanted. One of them knew all about this castle, and knew that you were here. With this help I was able to find my way here. And now I was once more favored by the merest chance. Had I tried to capture the place in a regular fashion I should have been driven back, for this castle is impregnable except to artillery; but my guide knew of a subterranean passageway, and guided me through this into the courtyard. Once here, I found all the men in a careless condition, and made a rush upon At this information he stood transfixed with amazement. Nothing was more probable than that Don Carlos had been in the castle, though he did not suppose that Don Carlos would rob travellers or hold them to ransom. And then there came upon him the bitter thought of all that he had lost by the escape of this distinguished personage. Had he captured him, he would have been certain of immortal glory-of advancement, of high command, honor, wealth, everything which a grateful government could bestow. And all had slipped out of his hands by the narrowest chance. The thought of that lost glory well-nigh overcame him. "I didn't see him," he groaned, as he stood clasping his hands in an attitude of despair. "He must have left before I came." "He left," said Katie, "while you were in the castle." "Ah!" said Lopez, "how do you know that?" "Because," said Katie, "I saw him when he left." "But you were in that room. How could he leave that room?" "I saw him when he left," said Katie: 66 that is all. You need not believe me unless you wish, but it is true." Lopez had to believe her. "And what is more," said Katie, "you will not remain here long. He will soon be back." "But I've guarded that passage so that others can not," said he. "Do you think," said she, "that there are no other secret passages than that?" Katie had drawn a bow at a venture. She knew from the statements of Dolores that there were secret passages all about; but whether there were any others that ran out into the country outside she did not know. Still, she thought she would try the effect of this on Lopez. She was fully satisfied with the result of her experiment. Lopez started and stared. CHAPTER XLIII. HOW LOPEZ HAS ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH KATIE, AND FEELS PUZZLED. IT was not much more than an hour afterward when Lopez paid Katie a second visit. By that time he had overcome all his excitement, and had settled upon a plan of action of a different kind. It was of no use, he saw, to appeal to Katie's feelings, and so he thought that he would try the effect of a little pressure of a moral character. "I hope you will pardon me," said he, "for troubling you again, but it is necessary for us to understand one another, and I think you do not see exactly how I am situated." At this Katie made no observation, but drew a long breath, and leaned back with the air of a martyr. This was excessively aggravating to Lopez, but he managed to smother his irritation, and proceeded: 66 Pardon me, señorita, if I have to recall the past. I saw you, as you remember, some months ago for the first time, and found you not unwilling to receive my attentions. From the first moment of my acquaintance with you I loved you, and thought that I had reason for hope. Lovers are always sanguine." "I can assure you, señor," said Katie, "Other secret passages!" he said. "Do "I do not see how you could have found you know of any?" "If I did I would not tell," said Katie. Lopez was much disturbed. He did not know but that there really were other secret passages. The escape of "his Majesty" seemed to point to this. He determined to institute a thorough search. "I'll find out every passage in the castle before evening," said he. Katie smiled. She did not believe that he would find one. Lopez felt nettled at her smile. "You don't believe I shall find them," said he. "If I don't find them I shall conclude that they are not there.' "A very safe conclusion!" said Katie. Lopez felt angry. He had come hoping to make an impression on Katie by telling her of his love and devotion. In this he had been miserably disappointed. He had become angry and excited. He was no longer in a fit mood to appeal to her feelings. He therefore concluded that it would be best to retirefor the present, and come again after he had grown calmer. any reason to hope in this case. Lopez felt this rebuff very keenly, but kept his temper. "I was merely speaking of my own hopes," said he, mildly, "and you certainly were far more amiable than you now are." "I'm sure, señor, I should be sorry to be otherwise than amiable, but sleepless nights and solitary confinement must necessarily affect one's temper. I can only say I do not wish to be rude." "Pardon me-rude? That is impossible," said Lopez, grasping eagerly at this as at some small concession. "I only want you to give me now a fair hearing. Let me say, once for all, that I loved you then, and have loved you ever since, most devotedly." "I suppose I must listen," said Katie, "as I am your prisoner; but I will only hint that before speaking of love it might be as well to set me free." Lopez drew a long breath. It was hard indeed for him to keep down his anger. “Very well," said he, taking no notice |