CHAPTER XXV.

WHEN THE OFFICER OF THE GUARD CAME.

It was a remarkable tableau.

The dark dungeon with its mouldy stone walls was a fitting background.

Roderic's little lantern did not cast a superabundance of light, but there was enough to show the three figures in the scene.

Inez, poor girl, had staggered back and seemed almost paralyzed--half crouching she leaned one hand against the wall for support, and with eyes distended by amazement and horror, stared at the prisoner as though appalled by the thought that her Leon had gone mad--that the cruel Spaniards had driven him out of his mind, else why should he treat her so roughly, she who would give her life for him if need be?

Roderic grasped the truth, and yet it was so astounding that he could not believe the positive evidence of his senses.

It seemed as though the hand of a magician had been extended to bring about such an amazing transformation.

He came to rescue Leon, and found in the young man's dungeon--Georgia!

Was ever surprise more complete?

Who could the wizard be--had brother and sister the power of changing their personality at will?

Strange fancies rioted through his excited mind as he stood there and stared--the situation was remarkable enough to arouse the most extravagant and marvelous thoughts.

At the same time Roderic was conscious of a powerful desire to take this bold maid of San Juan to his heart, for his love was still strong within him.

And as he thus stood and looked at her, perhaps with reproach upon his face, the anger seemed to gradually die away from her eyes, the color returned to her cheeks, her upraised hand that had flung Inez so violently back fell to her side and she trembled with a mixture of emotions.

Strange place indeed for an explanation and yet Roderic knew it was bound to come.

He wished to know many things, and on her part a revolution of feeling must take part in her heart toward the devoted being whom she had so scornfully thrust aside.

Of the three then, Inez was the first to find her tongue, to give utterance to the anguish that racked her soul.

"Holy Mother," she wailed, "he knows me not--they have robbed him of reason--they have broken my heart. Oh! Leon, unsay those cruel words--tell me that you still love me, or I too must go mad!"

The prisoner of the fortress doubtless heard, but never once were those luminous midnight orbs removed from Roderic's face.

His disguise might have baffled some but it was of no avail where those eyes were concerned.

One look and the mask had been torn away--she had known him from the instant he rushed through the arched doorway.

By this time Roderic had succeeded in mastering his emotions--at least he was in a fair way to gradually assume control.

The situation, too, was becoming unbearable, for Georgia, if the prisoner could be the girl he loved, seemed gradually being overwhelmed by confusion, perhaps because thus seen in male attire by the man whose respect she desired above all others, or it might be from some other equally potent reason.

"Georgia!"

Just one word, but what an effect it had upon the other--the prisoner of the dungeon burst into tears, all the while protesting and accusing Roderic of duplicity, declaring that her love had turned to hate, and yet giving this assertion the lie by the very emphasis with which she spoke.

It was a tirade of almost meaningless phrases, just such as one might expect from an impulsive whole hearted daughter of the tropics, who loved and suffered, and whose brave front, artificially sustained, had given way under this sudden shock.

Roderic did not wince--Roderic knew he held the magic power in his grasp whereby he could change this mourning into rejoicing--he knew she loved him in spite of what she might say, yes loved him with an undying affection such as only a woman of her stamp could experience.

He waited a minute or so until she had exhausted the violence of her emotions.

When finally she had hidden her face in her hands, as if she dared no longer let him gaze upon her weakness, Roderic took a step toward her and spoke gently.

At the sound of his beloved voice she trembled like an aspen leaf, and as she heard the astounding intelligence imparted by his calm words, first she looked from between her fingers, then both hands fell from her face, and finally with bated breath she hung upon his closing sentences, utterly transformed, radiant with a sudden return of happiness such as she had believed could never again be her portion on earth.

What he said was but a hurried review of this meeting with Inez under such strange conditions, the appointment he had made for a rendezvous in the plaza, and last of all their desperate undertaking in company on this night, resolved to save Leon if it be in mortal power to do so.

She looked toward Inez, into whose brain something of the wonderful truth was beginning to enter.

That look no longer spoke of contempt and hatred--there was a new light in her eye as though her soul had awakened to a glorious realization of the possibilities opening before.

In Inez the devoted daughter of Morro's stern governor, the girl who had saved Leon from a prison cell in Cuba, the woman whose love had made her that same Leon's wife and who was therefore her own sister, she saw a different being from the dark-eyed houri whom she once believed had stolen Roderic's heart--circumstances alter cases, and the same scene we have looked upon in the deceptive moonlight becomes transformed in the garish light of day.

"His wife--my brother's wife--oh! what is this strange thing you tell me--that would be too much happiness--I must be dreaming."

The girl had met with such a revulsion of feeling that she threatened to become incoherent again; but Roderic, advancing another step laid a hand upon her arm, his touch acting like magic, for he seemed to infuse some of his own calmness into her.

"Go closer to Inez--see, the poor girl is bewildered, overwhelmed at finding you here when she expected Leon, just as I too am deeply puzzled. Speak to her--ask her who she is, and what she seeks at the risk of her life. Ah! you cannot hate her, sweetheart, she who loves your brother so dearly--your sister. Take her to your heart, you two whom Heaven has brought together so strangely."

His words stirred both of those who heard--the girls looked at each other yearningly, for a new emotion had leaped into their souls.

Unable to longer restrain their feminine feelings they were speedily clasped in each other's arms, while Roderic stood by, holding his little lantern, complacently watching the demonstration, meanwhile congratulating himself that his skies had cleared and that the future promised glorious possibilities.

He was still greatly puzzled and for the life of him unable to comprehend how Georgia could take the place of Leon in this dungeon of the old fortress, difficult of access and vigilantly guarded by not only one but two sentries.

At the same time he knew an explanation would speedily be forthcoming, and hence exercised what patience he possessed.

It is not so difficult to do this when all things seem to be coming one's way.

Presently Georgia remembered.

As she turned from Inez and faced her lover, face and neck were suffused with scarlet.

In his eyes it was a beautiful sight, and he could not remember ever having seen her look so charming.

"Oh! Roderic, can you, will you forgive my cruel, unjust suspicions, my insane jealousy that caused me to treat you so bitterly, that refused to hear your explanations? I do not deserve your love, but God knows I could not live without it. Tell me you forgive such a wretch, and make me happy again."

He opened wide his arms, and forgetting her confusion, forgetting everything but that she loved him and had again found Paradise, her head was quickly pillowed on his shoulder, and she looked up into his face, smiling through her tears.

"You do forgive?"

"As I hope to be forgiven. Let it be forgotten, even as you said of my transgression. We love--we have been true to each other--the future lies before us, why should we burden ourselves with foolish doubts and fears? From this hour then we begin anew, nor may all Satan's power prevail against us, nor shall I have reason to fear a Jerome or a Julio, the latter of whom turns out to be the erring black sheep in the family of Inez--her step-brother. As to Leon----"

"_Carramba!_ yes, what of Leon?" cried Inez, with suddenly renewed interest.

What indeed.

Roderic himself was conscious of a keen interest in the young man--where had he gone and what brought Georgia to his dungeon?

Plainly the time had arrived for explanations, nor did Georgia show a disposition to withhold them.

"You wonder to find me here?" she said, releasing herself from his arms.

"Naturally so."

"And disguised as--as, a man," with confusion.

"Under the conditions if you came here at all it would have to be under false colors."

"The case was desperate--it admitted of no false modesty. Leon was to be shot in the morning. I laid my plans and sought help of the only one I believed I could trust in all San Juan. Heaven bless her kind spirit, and forgive me for ever having believed she could have stooped so low as to take the heart that belonged to me."

"What! you went to Cleo?" he exclaimed.

"Nothing more nor less, since I dared not ask the active assistance of my guardian Don Porfidio, who endeavored in vain to have Leon's sentence dismissed or changed. Yes, the Senorita Cleo not only received me warmly but gave me aid and promised that if we succeeded Leon should sail away on her yacht to safety."

"God bless her!" muttered Roderic.

"And he will, beloved, depend on it. But time will not permit me to tell all. Her Captain Beven came ashore with me, and waits near by for us to join him. Unfortunately we met Jerome on the street, showing Captain Shackelford the sights of San Juan. I know he recognized me in spite of my disguise for they hung upon our track until we drew near the fortress. I fear he may discover the truth and in some way overwhelm us with trouble. He is my evil genius--something within tells me that through Senor Wellington the most bitter trial of my life must come. But at last we seemed to shake them off, and I found an opportunity to enter this awful place."

Roderic shuddered to think of this valiant girl undertaking such a gigantic task alone--it seemed almost incredible, and he would not have believed it had not the fact come under his own observation.

"But--how did you gain entrance to this cell, and--where has Leon gone?"

"Yes, tell us of him, I implore," echoed Inez, who had hung upon every word.

"You shall hear. I already knew where my poor brother was confined,--how I learned the facts I shall not say just now; and after infinite trouble I came to where a guard walked up and down before a barred door behind which I was positive Leon might be found.

"All had been prepared, Captain Beven having so doctored a flask of liquor that the wretch drinking half of it would be overwhelmed by sleep.

"While the guard walked away from me I placed this bait where he would be apt to kick it with his foot on his return.

"Everything worked smoothly, Senor Owen--the fellow gulped down some of the stuff and presently slept as sweetly as a cherub."

"Is sleeping still, and good for ten hours," declared Roderic, and then resumed his attitude of listener, believing that something of deep importance was coming next.

"When this result had been secured I opened the door and found Leon alive and well."

Inez uttered a fervent prayer of thanks.

"I had brought him some garments to put on, such as the Spanish soldiers wear, but knowing the hour was near when the officer of the guard would come along to see that each sentry was in his place it was decided that until that critical time passed I was to remain in the cell, while with the door barred Leon would take the sentry's gun and mount guard----"

Inez uttered a startled cry that seemed to come from her very soul, and turning from them darted toward the door of the dungeon.

Roderic knew what it meant.

He suddenly remembered how he had placed the nervous guard _hors de combat_--at the time he considered this a remarkably clever piece of business--now he was ready to call himself a fool for his action.

Good Heavens! what if he had gone a little further than he intended--what if the breath had refused to return to the seeming guard after his fall--it was Leon whom he had assailed, Leon, the very man for whose sake, considering the fact that he was _her_ brother, he had taken all this deadly risk.

No wonder then he hurried after the impulsive wife, whom love sent flying through the cell door.

And Georgia, as yet failing to grasp the true sense of the situation, and unwilling to remain behind, also followed.

As Roderic issued from the dungeon he discovered Inez bending over the form of the bound guard, and the American held his breath with suspense as he hurried toward them.

Ere he arrived however he was reassured.

"He lives, senor, thanks be to the Virgin--it is I, my Leon, your Inez who has sworn to save you nor share your fate. A knife Senor Owen, so that we may cut loose his arms. Oh! blessed moment that I behold you alive!"

Thus alternately addressing Roderic and anon her husband, Inez pillowed the head of the bound man, who seemed too amazed to speak.

When however Roderic had opened his pocket knife and severed the bonds with which he had so carefully bound his victim, he was rejoiced to see him immediately sit up.

All seemed to be going well.

Perhaps fortune had other favors in store for them--at least the clouds were rolling away, leaving a clear sky above.

Inez had by this time managed to get her arms around the neck of her husband, and was uttering happy expressions of endearment.

Roderic himself would not have minded copying this example, with the being he loved so close by, but just at this juncture the happy scene was rudely and suddenly disturbed by a gruff voice uttering in vigorous Spanish some astonishment at what was occurring in the grim passage of the old fortress.

Of course it was the miserable officer making his rounds, and who had arrived just at this interesting moment.