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CONCLUSION.

The ensuing morning we went early on shore, curious to witness how the
populace would conduct on learning that they were to be deprived of the gratification
of seeing `El Saltador' broken upon the wheel. We expected to
find the streets filled with an excited and incensed multitude. But to our
surprise we found that there had been no public notice given by the governor
of the pardon of Rafael. The whole city was in motion towards the Campo
and all was animation with the prospect of the expected spectacle. We joined
the moving throng towards the place of execution, desirous of seeing how
they would bear the disappointment, and prepared to behold some fearful commotion
as the result of Tacon's clemency.

On reaching the `Campo' which was a waste field outside of the walls, we
found several thousand persons already assembled, and the gallows upon which
the crew of the captured pirate vessel were to be hung, erected, and the rack
or `wheel' placed near it. The former was full forty feet in length, it being
constructed for the purpose of hanging the whole party at once.

`The people will be content with the hanging,' said Wordley; `and perhaps
glutted with the death of the pirates, will not feel their disappointment
in not having the additional spectacle of Rafael broken upon the wheel!'

While he was speaking the pirates were escorted to the gallows by a battalion
of troops, and after the priests had performed the last offices of religion,
they were executed.

But it was plain from the indifference with which this sight was witnessed
by the Habaneros that they were reserving the edge of their appetite for the
less ordinary execution upon the wheel. The execution of `El Saltador' was,
besides, worth more then that of three score pirates to witness; and for this
spectacle all were now on the eve of the most exciting expectation.

`I dont know how the Captain-general will appease this curiosity,' observed
Wordley as we overheard the remarks of the spectators to each other in anticipation
of the fearful `afterpiece' to the tragedy they had just witnessed.—
Every eye had been fixed upon the wheel and all at once a deep murmur swept
over the multitude like the wind stirring the leaves of a forest.

`There he is!' flew from tongue to tongue. Could it he possible? The
executioner was actually conducting a man upon the platform of the rack.—
From the distance at which we stood we had no doubt but that it was Rafael.
We exchanged remarks of surprise at the Governor's perfidy, and turned away
with horror from the painful scene!

The fearful wheel began to do its work. The air rung with two or three
piercing shrieks! The whole multitude was as silent as the ocean in a calm.
Suddenly, up went a great outcry that seemed to shake the Heavens. It was
a cry of deep satisfaction and ferocious triumph. The vengeance of the people
were satisfied, and their appetite for the horrible sated. The vast mass
separated into fragments amid the thunder of cannon and the martial sounds
of music, and poured back again into the streets of the city.

When we reached the Polacio, Wordely said that he would go in and learn
why the Captain-General should have acted so deceitfully; for we deeply regretted
Rafael's terrible end.

The governor met us in the corridor. He advanced towards us smiling.
Wordley returned his smile with a cold, severe expression.

`Were you at the execution, Senores?' he asked.

`Yes, but —' began Wordley, with a tone of indignant emotion.

`I see that all is right, then! for by your looks you come to accuse me of
dishonoring my word!'

`Most certainly I do!' answered Wordley, firmly.

`If you have been deceived then all has gone well, and I have no fears
from the people. If you think you have seen Don Rafael broken on the
wheel they will make oath that they have seen him executed!'

`I do not understand, your excellency,' said Wordley, with surprise.

`Come with me!' he said, with a peculiar manner.

We followed him along the corridor. He threw open the door of an inner
room, and to our amazement we beheld Rafael reclining upon a sofa and looking
very much improved in appearance and as sound in limb as if he had
never been near wheel or rack.

`There you see, Senores sits, El Saltador,' said the Captain-General, smiling.
`He who was broken on the rack was a condemned criminal, who was
to have suffered next Thursday. It was necessary for the peace of the city
that some one should die upon the wheel, and so I anticipated this criminal's
day of execution. I had him clad in `El Saltador's garments, and as his eyes
were bandaged the deceit could not be easily detected, especially as no one
was suspecting such a thing as a substitute. You see I have appeased the
people, saved Don Rafael and kept my own honor!'

A few words will now complete the story of the Twice condemned. The
third day after the Execution of the pirates, Rafael was conveyed on board a
Spanish brig which an hour afterwards set sail bound for New Orleans. As

she passed near our quarter on leaving the harbor Rafael waved his hand in
adieu; and then turning his face towards the city, and with his eye probably
fastened upon the roof of the palace which held the lovely Spanish maiden to
whom he owed his life, and with whom he had left his heart, he remained in
this position until distance rendered his person no longer distinguishable.

From that period there has been no further intelligence of him. The Captain-General
was soon after superseded and returned to Spain with the lovely
Donna Leonor who bore with her to the golden vales of Castille a sad and
gentle memory of the youthful buccaneer whose life she had restored to him
for her own.