Salamanca was reached, he did not allow himself to be seen by daylight, but went secretly to Father Philip and secured his assistance. The priest managed to convey to Inez the information that Estevan wished to meet her on the following night beneath a large tree below the hill.

When the appointed hour for the rendezvous came, Estevan with trembling limbs and palpitating heart wended his way to the place. The night was very still. Even the nightingale's song was hushed, or so far away that it could not disturb the lovers. He threw himself on the ground and waited impatiently. Would she come? Hark! what was that? Surely he heard footsteps. Starting up, he saw an armed man approaching. Filled with alarm, Estevan laid his hand on his sword, but the new-comer spoke, and he recognized in him faithful Sancho, the guide who brought him a horse and led him in his flight from Salamanca. "I came to see if you were here,” he said. "Who sent you?"

"Doña Inez."

"Go to her, Sancho, and tell her I am waiting." Sancho went back toward the castle, and Estevan again threw himself on the ground and clasped his hands over his heart to stop its wild beating. Again the sound of footsteps fell upon his ear; this time the tread was lighter than before.

"Is she coming?"

She was coming, he knew it, and, starting to his feet, he saw a beautiful being clad in white, moving toward him.

"Inez!"

"Christopher!" and, with a glad cry, she was in his arms. For a moment neither spoke a word. After a while he regained his voice.

"Inez, you have heard all?”

"I have, and I believe you blameless."

"If you could but know the persecutions to which my family has been subjected, you would understand why I was outlawed. I am going away to the New World with Pizarro to Peru, and I hope to win honors and gold to buy the friendship of the king.'

"We go also to the New World," said Inez. "What! Inez, speak again; did I understand you?"

"We are going to Panama. My uncle is already there, and through him father has purchased large tracts of land. He has consented to take me

with him."

"Heaven be praised! We both shall be on the same continent. When will you sail?"

"In one month."

"Then you will come on the fleet that follows ours," said Estevan.

"We will "

CHAPTER XVI.

RETURN TO THE NEW WORLD.

In

THE cannon from the port at St. Jago boomed forth the arrival of a ship from the Old World. a moment the town was wild with excitement. What vessel was it? what tidings did it bring from the Old World? whose friends were in the ship? were the questions asked by nearly every one.

The boats which pulled out to the vessel learned that it was on the way to Darien with supplies and recruits for Pizarro's expedition.

Among the first to disembark was a handsome young fellow about twenty or twenty-one years of age. He gazed about, from right to left, as if trying to recognize some familiar landmark, and then passed quickly up into the town. He glanced curiously at the faces he met as though in search of a friend. Here and there an old resident would give the young stranger a more than passing glance, which he returned with a nod or smile, and passed on boldly up the street like one who had known the place all his life.

"Now may I never make another pun, and may I forever lose my wits if I haven't seen that face before," declared Gerund the jester, gazing in the young man's face.

"It would be impossible for you to lose your wits, my friend," answered the stranger with a smile.

Why would it, my merry fellow?" "Because you have none."

"Well, I will admit that, for once, Gerund has been worsted. But, pray thee, tell me who you

are?"

The stranger was not ready to reveal his identity, and, with a laugh, hurried through the town into the suburbs, where stood a stately mansion.

"Here, as elsewhere, all has changed," he said. "The forest, so grand in my childhood, has shrunk farther and farther away; the little cottage has grown to a stately mansion; faces once so familiar are grown out of recognition, and I have changed also, for no one knows me. Will they recognize

me?"

As he approached the mansion, he saw a whitehaired man, with a cane, walking in the garden. He had all the bearing of a veteran soldier. Years had rolled by since he sailed with Cortez to conquer Mexico. The tall, handsome young fellow was a child then.

The white-haired man was as