“I’ve done what I came to do, sir, but Miss Varona is badly shaken by all she has been through.  She’s very nervous and far from well.  Esteban, too, isn’t recovering.”

General Gomez nodded.  “Miss Evans declares he must have a change, and we have arranged to send him out of the country.  His sister, poor child, should go, too.”

“When can they leave?”

“Who knows?  Not for some time, certainly.  Expeditions are irregular.”

“They should go at once,” O’Reilly said, positively.  “That’s why we came to see you.  Let us—­Branch and me—­take all three of them to the United States.”

“You, too, El Demonio?” inquired the general.

“Yes, sir; if you please.”

“But how?  How can you take two women and a sick man-

“We’ll manage somehow,” O’Reilly declared.  “It isn’t far across to the Bahama Banks.”

“True.  That’s the route of our underground—­our undersea—­ railroad.  As you probably know, there is a venturesome countryman of yours who carries our despatches by that way.  He devised the scheme, to keep us in touch with our friends in New York, and he has done us great service.  He comes and goes in a small boat, but how or when nobody knows.  The Spanish patrols are on the lookout for him, and there’s a price on his head, so you won’t find it easy or safe to cross.  Beware that you are not mistaken for him.”

“Do you mean that we may go?” Branch eagerly inquired.

The general hesitated, whereupon O’Reilly spoke up:  “For my part, I’ll agree to come back if you so desire.”

Gomez shook his white head.  “No!  You came to find and to save your fiancee, and you volunteered to serve with us while you were doing so.  We have no desire to keep any man against his will.  Some one must escort Miss Evans, who is our guest.  Why not you two?  She has every confidence in you, and if she chooses to risk this enterprise rather than wait until we can guarantee her an easier trip we shall not restrain her.  I shall see that you reach the coast safe and sound; beyond that you must trust in God.”

Branch was immensely relieved; he joined volubly in O’Reilly’s thanks and became careless of his arm, which no longer appeared to pain him.  Peace with honor, it seemed, was all that he desired.

“I was looking forward to an interesting ceremony this afternoon,” Gomez went on.  “Has your arrival changed the plans?”

“Oh no, sir!” O’Reilly said, quickly.  “I’d like to make it doubly interesting, if Miss Varona will consent to such short notice.”

“Bravo!  You have a way of doing the unexpected.  Twin births, a double wedding!  Why not?  The sight of a little happiness will be good for all of us; we’re apt to forget that life and the big world are going on as usual.  I don’t think Miss Varona will have it in her heart to refuse you anything.”

The old soldier was right.  Rosa did not gainsay her lover, and toward sundown the city among the leaves witnessed an unaccustomed scene.