Paul was all life at once.  He sprang up, his eyes sparkling and the flush of anticipation coming into his face.

“Henry has succeeded!” he cried.  “He has done something big!  I knew he would!  He has defeated Alvarez and that wretch Wyatt!”

The Catalan regarded Paul with admiration.  He liked this enthusiasm, this infinite trust in a comrade.  The five and their faith in one another continued to make the strongest of appeals to him.

“I think it is even so,” he said.  “The young giant surnamed the Ware, must have done a great deed, because Don Francisco Alvarez, is summoned, at the same time, to the presence of His Excellency, the Governor General, Bernardo Galvez, and I hear that he is in no pleasant frame of mind because of it.  Come!”

The four went forth joyfully.  Shif’less Sol was the first to put foot on Mother Earth, and he stopped, raised his head, and opened his mouth to its widest extent.

“Jim,” he said to Long Jim Hart, “I want to breathe it in, this outdoors an’ fresh air an’ freedom, everywhar I kin, at my mouth, nose, ears, an’ eyes, too, ef they’re any good at that sort o’ business.”

“An’ at the pores, too, Sol,” said Paul.

“What’s pores?”

“Millions and millions of fine little holes all over you.”

“Wa’ll, I ain’t ever seed any o’ them holes, or felt ’em, but ef they’re in me I hope they’re all workin’ right now, drawin’ the good fresh air.”

Lieutenant Diego Bernal led the way rapidly to the house of the Governor General, and four soldiers closed up by the side of them as an escort and guard.  But the four had no thought of attempting escape.  Their minds were wholly occupied with what might occur when they were a second time in the presence of the Governor General.

They were taken through the anteroom and then into the large hall of audience where the Governor General sat, as before, in the great chair with his secretary at the little table at his right.  At one side of the room were Francisco Alvarez, and Braxton Wyatt, both frowning, and at the other side were Oliver Pollock and Henry Ware, neither frowning at all.  Henry came forward and shook hands warmly with his comrades.

“What is it, Henry?” whispered Paul.  “What has happened?”

“Wait,” replied Henry in a similar whisper.  “We must see what Bernardo Galvez is going to do.”

The Governor General motioned the four, now the five once more, to seats, and they noticed that the audience was marked by unusual state.  Two soldiers, as a guard, stood near one of the windows, and the secretary was ready with his ink and goose quills to write down whatever he might be ordered to write.  Alvarez and Braxton Wyatt were visibly uneasy.  Bernardo Galvez sat upright, his face stern, his look commanding.  He was every inch of him a Governor General.

“Gentlemen,” he said speaking in precise English, “a charge was made in this chamber some days since, a charge involving the integrity and loyalty of a high officer in the service of Spain, Don Francisco Alvarez.  This charge was made by five men and youths from the new region called by themselves Kentucky and known here as Kaintock, but they brought little proof to support it.”