"Why not?" demanded Cora.
"Because of the fact that there has been an escape--perhaps several,"
was the answer. "Those signal flags are a warning to all vessels not
to take aboard any refugees that seem to have escaped from here,
unless they are taken as prisoners."
"How horrid!" murmured Bess.
"But we'll go see the commandant, and learn how matters stand," went
on Mr. Robinson. "Fortunately I have letters from persons in
influence that may aid me. And you have your papers, Inez?"
"Yes, Senor. I have them," she answered.
Our friends were stared at rather disconcertingly as they landed, and
there was no little suspicion in the glances directed at them, as
they made their way to the commandant's quarters.
There was some delay before they were admitted, for they all went in
together, all save Walter, and he had said it might be best if he
remained on board the Tartar with Joe and Jim.
"We have come," said Mr. Robinson to the Spanish officer, "to arrange
for the release of Senor Ralcanto--the father of this young lady. We
have papers which prove his innocence of the charge against him, and
I may add that one, of the men responsible for his unjust arrest is
himself a prisoner, and on a more serious charge than a mere
political one. I refer to Senor Ramo, who is in jail at Palm
Island."
The commandant started. Evidently he was regarding his callers with
more courtesy, for he had been a bit supercilious at first.
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