longed for the great forests of the Ohio River country.  Behind the chateau were some low, heavy out buildings of logs, and Paul and Long Jim were thrust into one of these, the door being fastened behind them with a huge padlock.  Alvarez detailed Luiz, who seemed to rank a little above his fellows, and three others to keep watch and then, feeling that he held his prisoners securely, the commander went into the chateau.  But he stopped at the door and ordered that a gold coin and as much rum as he could drink should be given to The Cat.

“It was due to his wonderful instinct and cunning,” he said, “that we captured these fellows and recovered my boat.  It was an important achievement.”

Braxton Wyatt looked with intense interest at the chateau, which was unlike anything that he had ever seen before.  It was a strange compound of luxury and roughness.  The walls were of wood, often ill-hewn, but several pieces of beautifully-woven tapestry hung upon them.  Some of the floors were entirely bare, others were covered partly by Eastern rugs.  Carved and curved weapons of many lands adorned the walls, and in one room were a mandolin and guitar.

Alvarez led the way to an inner court or patio, waving back all except Braxton Wyatt.  The patio was large, with little beds of flowers in the corners, and a pool of pure, fresh water in the center.  The pool was fed by a little stream that ran from a brook near the chateau, and it was drained by a similar stream.

The patio was enclosed by a narrow, interior veranda, and the veranda held deep cane chairs, one of which Alvarez took, waving Braxton Wyatt to another.

The Spanish commander with a great air of relief and luxury leaned back in his cane chair.  He loved the south and the sunshine to which he was born, and, although bold and hardy, he had little liking for the great, cold forests of the North.  He clapped his hand and a servant brought glasses and wine.  Alvarez filled the glasses himself and handed the first courteously to Wyatt.

“Drink,” he said, “I am glad that expedition is over.  The Governor General wished me to go, to explore, to make treaties, and to secure our title, but the wilderness, though interesting, grows monotonous.”

“It is comfortable here,” said Braxton Wyatt, stretching himself in the great cane chair.  He was entirely recovered from his own wound and he appreciated the luxury of the place.

“Yes, it is indeed grateful to the tired body and limbs.  I could feel a complete sense of rest and victory, if it were not for the sting of the wound that boy gave me.  Who could have thought that I should be defeated with the sword by a boy from the woods of Kaintock?”

The Spaniard frowned and narrowed his cruel blue eyes.  Braxton Wyatt murmured some words of sympathy, but in his heart he was not sorry because of the incident.  He thought that Alvarez at times had patronized him too much, had assumed too lofty an air, and he was willing to see him suffer mortification.  Moreover, he could use the hurt pride of Alvarez as an additional incitement against the five whom he hated.