“If we have not won, neither has the Spaniard,” whispered Henry in Paul’s ear.

Oliver Pollock glanced out of the big window and the turning of his head hid the twinkle in his eye.  Yes, these were very delicate matters, and two great nations and another that hoped to be great, too, were involved, but one might make progress nevertheless.

Bernardo Galvez spoke to his secretary, who left the room, but returned in a few minutes with no less a personage than Lieutenant Diego Bernal, mincing, scrupulously dressed, but very alert of eye.

“You will take six soldiers,” said the Governor General to him, “and escort these five to the fortress.  Treat them well, but hold them until further orders.”

Oliver Pollock gave a nod to Henry.  It said plainly, “go without protest.”  Henry and his comrades rose and followed Lieutenant Bernal from the Governor General’s house.  Thence they went to one of the forts in the wall that surrounded the town.

CHAPTER XVI

IN PRISON

Their fortress prison was built of brick, but it was not a particularly somber place.  They were all put in one large room which had two windows barred with iron; but plenty of air came in at the windows, and the place, though bare, was clean.

“Well,” said Lieutenant Bernal, when they were inside, “tell me all that occurred before Bernardo Galvez.”

Paul was again the spokesman telling everything that was said as literally as he could.

“I have an impression,” said Lieutenant Bernal, “although my impressions are usually wrong and my memory is always weak, that you have scored, at least partially.  You have sowed the fertile crop of suspicion in the mind of Bernardo Galvez.  He has shown that by making Francisco Alvarez virtually a prisoner, also, and you have a powerful advocate in the Senor Pollock, the great merchant, and I may add the great diplomat, also.”

“How long do you think we will be kept in here?” asked Shif’less Sol, looking around at the room, which, though wide, was by no means so wide as the forests of Kentucky.

“I do not know,” replied the lieutenant, smiling—­he understood the look of the shiftless one, “but you shall not be ill-treated, and do not feel that any disgrace lies upon you.  This is a military prison.  Good men have been confined here; I myself, for instance, because of some little breach of military discipline magnified by my officers into a fault.  Oh, you shall not suffer!”

He bustled about cheerily.  He had food and drink brought to them, and then he departed, volunteering to see that their private property on “The Galleon” was saved and brought to them.

No one spoke for a little while after his going, and then the silence was broken by a long, dismal sigh.  It was drawn up from the depths of Long Jim’s chest.

“Are you sick, Jim?” asked Henry.