lome Hurtado, once his favorite officer, was sent to take command of his squadron.

Bad news flies on the wings of the morning, and in an incredibly short time Fulvia heard of her lord's arrest. She hurried to Acla to console him with her presence, but was refused admission. The trial was a farce. On the testimony of Andres. Garabito and a sentinel, who had also overheard what Balboa had said to Fulvia, he was convicted. Fulvia, being a heathen, was not permitted to testify in his behalf, and Balboa was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.

The governor, upbraiding the doomed man, said: "Hitherto, I have treated you as a son, because I thought you loyal to your king and to his representative, but, as you have meditated rebellion against the crown of Castile, I cast you off from my affections, and shall henceforth treat you as an enemy."

Balboa indignantly denied the charge, and referred to the confiding frankness of his conduct as a proof of his innocence.

"Had I been conscious of my guilt, what could have induced me to come here and put myself in your power?" he asked. "Had I meditated rebellion, what prevented me from carrying it into effect? I had four ships ready to weigh anchor, three hundred brave men at my command, and an

open sea before me. sail and press forward? There was no doubt of finding a land, whether rich or poor, sufficient for me and mine, far beyond reach of your control. In the innocence of my heart I came here promptly at your request, and my reward is slander, indignity, chains, and death!"

What had I to do but spread

upon

Unable to answer an appeal so noble and generous, Pedrarias left the prison cell and went out the street. As he was going, some one touched his arm and a soft musical voice imploringly asked: "Can I see him? Can I see him? Please, governor, let me see him!"

"It's Fulvia!" cried the governor. "Fulvia, the wild she-devil who has bewitched him. Away! or I will set the dogs on you."

The frightened Fulvia ran away, but hovered near, hoping to be able to get a glimpse of her husband. Again and again did Pedrarias drive her into the wood, threatening her with the dogs, until the populace, incensed at his cruelty, determined that she should talk with the doomed man. So urgently did they insist, that, on the night before the execution, the interview was granted. Fulvia rushed into the arms of Balboa, and burying her face on his shoulder, gave way to sobs.

"It is I who have brought you to death," she cried, when he sought to soothe her. "Denounce

me, cast me from you, wed the governor's daughter, and live."

"No, Fulvia, I prefer death with your love to a kingdom without it," answered the hero, with a smile.

The dread morning of execution came. A scaffold had been built, and the grim executioner, with his black mask over his face, stood by the fatal block, leaning on his great shining axe. Three of Balboa's officers had been doomed to die with him, and from a secret place between the reeds of a wall, Pedrarias was a witness to the bloody scene. The scaffold was in the plaza or public square of Acla, and the prisoners, under a strong guard, were marched toward it.

From the hill a weeping woman watched them, and as they drew near the fatal scaffold, she ran to them crying: "Let it be me. I am guilty, not he."

"Away, she-devil!" shouted a soldier, striking her with the pole of his lance. "Away, lest I run you through."

"Slay me, if you will, but spare him!" she cried. "Ask nothing of them," said Balboa. "Let

not your tears rejoice their hearts.”

The public crier who walked before Balboa, at this moment proclaimed: "This is the punishment inflicted by command of the king and his lieutenant,

Don Pedrarias Davila, on this man, as a traitor and an usurper of the territories of the crown."

"He lies!" Balboa indignantly answered. "Never did such a crime enter my mind. I have ever served my king with truth and loyalty, and sought to augment his dominions."

Fulvia's frantic grief began to move the multitude, and the officers having the execution in hand hurried Balboa forward. As he mounted the scaffold, the explorer gazed about over the scene. After wandering over the vast array of faces, his eyes finally fell on Fulvia, and as the executioners bound his feet together and tied his hands behind his back, his deep rich voice suddenly broke the stillness.

"Farewell, Fulvia, I die for loving you!" he exclaimed.

Then he was forced forward on his knees, his head held down on the block by his long hair; the executioner raised his terrible axe, it flashed like a gleam of vengeance in the sunlight, and fell with a sickening thud. There was a rush of dark blood over the scaffold, and the head of Balboa was severed from its body.

One prolonged shriek rent the air, and Fulvia fell in a swoon.

CHAPTER VI.

THE OPPORTUNITY.

FROM this dark spot on history's page we turn once more to Cuba, where affairs go better. Velasquez, though a fickle and jealous governor, did not possess the cruelty of Pedrarias. His reconciliation with Cortez seemed permanent. Cortez married the Señora Catalina and received a liberal share of lands and repartiamiento of Indians. He still lived in the neighborhood of St. Jago, and, being once more restored to good citizenship, renewed the acquaintance of Estevan.

"So the gay, dashing Cortez has settled down to mining and raising sugar-cane," said Christina, a few days after the marriage of Cortez to the fair Catalina.

"Yes, and promises to be a sober citizen," her husband answered.

"He is cruel," put in Christopher.

"Why?"

"He beat a slave to-day. I heard the poor In