University of Virginia Library

10. CHAPTER X.
THE WHEEL.

The emotion of Donna Leonor on recognising her protector and beholding
him in chains before her, rendered her insensible to the consideration that he
was the notorious buccaneer `El Saltador,' whose deeds were the theme of
every tongue. She approached him and laying her hand upon his, while her
dark, beautiful eyes were swimming with tears of pity and gratitude—

`Noble Don Rafael, I thank Heaven for giving me an opportunity of expressing
to you my gratitude, though I am grieved that it is under circumstances to
yourself so unfortunate. The good deed you performed for me, will never be
obliterated from my memory. You saved my life and honor! I will save
yours!

Then turning from him, she approached her uncle the Captain-general who
had been regarding her with a countenance full of perplexity.

`Uncle, I ask of you the life of your prisoner?' she cried with eloquent
earnestness. `Do not refuse me! I know that he has forfeited it! I know
that he is twice condemned! I know that he has done evil! But spare him
for my sake! But for him I should have been lost to you forever?—
But for him, instead of the happiness I enjoy in your presence and under your
paternal protection, I should have been wretched and degraded! Let not the
preserver of my life die!'

`I know that something is due to him, Leonor,' answered the Captain-general
looking very much troubled, his feelings evidently struggling between his
duty as a man and as a ruler, with a strong bias towards clemency. `But if
I pardon Don Rafael how shall I appease the public? They will demand his
death! They wait to witness his execution! I dare not disappoint them
without sufficient reason; and the fact that he rescued you, my niece, I fear
will weigh little with them at such a time! I fear El Saltador must die!'

`No—no! He must not die!' she cried fervently. It shall never be said
that you were insensible to the dictates of generosity, you, who owe so much
to Don Rafael; that is if you value me, whom he has preseved to you!'

`Do not plead for me, noble signora,' said Rafael with a glowing cheek
and a sparkling eye as if his heart swelled with gratitude to her, for her interest
in his fate,—`I have been condemned and am ready to meet my fate—that
is die—though I would not die on the wheel!'

`You shall not die, Don Rafael! My uncle will pardon you! He is too
noble to take the life of one who saved mine!'

`I will mitigate his sentence, niece,' answered the Captain-general. `He
shall not be broken on the wheel. I will substitute instead the soldier's
death!'

`He must not die,' answered Leonor with firmness. `I will protect him
with my life! If it is of no value to other's it is to him, and as he has preserved
it he shall have the protection it can afford him!'

As she spoke the spirited and generous Spanish girl left her uncle and
placed herself by the side of the prisoner. Her uncle regarded her for some
moments with surprise and seemed to be endeavoring to discover whether
there was not a feeling in all this conduct deeper than mere gratitude. At
length his mind seemed to be made up. He approached Rafael and said with
dignity—

`Young man, for the sake of my neice I pardon you! It shall never be said
of me that I sacrificed the life of own who saved the life of my neice! Remove
his chains!'

This order was given to the Captain of his guard who stood near, and a
smith being sent for, his irons were soon taken off and borne from the apartment.
With a slight exertion Rafael raised himself from the litter and seizing
the hand of Leonor kissed it with an air of grateful respect. She threw
herself upon her uncle's bosom and wept for joy, overwhelming him with her
thanks and praises for his goodness.

`There is a condition with your freedom, senor,' said the Governor turning
to Rafael; it is that you leave the island within three days, and pledge me
your honor as a man, for I believe you will regard sacredly such a pledge, that
you will never return hither. The penalty for appearing here again be assured
will be death?

Rafael on hearing this condition, glanced at the beautiful, earnest face of
Leonor and then answered sadly—

`I give your Excellency the pledge you solicit!'

But he looked as if banishment from the presence of the lovely girl, were a
punishment scarce less than death. Between her and him there was apparent,
to an observing eye, a tender sympathy of interest already awakened, which
time and opportunity would surely ripen into love. Leonor looked as if she
would rather the condition had not been annexed; but she was silent.

`You have a wound,' said the governor to the young man! My surgeon
shall attend to it! You shall be removed to a suitable apartment, where you
will be held as a prisoner until a Spanish vessel, now in port suils for the United
States on board which I will have you secretly conveyed. The knowledge
of your pardon shall remain a secret from the multitude!'

`How will you prevent their knowing it?' asked one of the Spanish officers
with a look of surprise.

`I shall find a way,' answered the governor dryly.

Rafael after his chains were removed, getting energy from the sight of the

lovely girl whom he had served and whom he never forgotten, and inspired by
the pardon he had so unexpectedly obtained through her intercession, felt
stronger in heart and body, and able to sustain himself without the litter.—
Leaning on the arm of one of the soldiers, he was conducted from the room.
As he left he bowed to each of us and waved his hand in forewell. Leonor
stood pale and silent regarding him attentively, and with all her woman's soul
in her eyes. Their eyes met for an instant, and as the electric arrow darts
from cloud to cloud, so love's arrows darted from heart to heart in that brief
glance, and it needed not a magician to tell me two souls were made one!