And to put himself in open hostility was madness, too.

It would render impossible a systematic search for tli.it treasure, for that wealth of silver which he seemed feel somewhere about, to scent somewhere near. Jut where? Where? Heavens! Where? Oh! why id he allowed that doctor to go? Imbecile that he ,-.t But no! It was the only right course, he re- '1, distractedly, while the messenger waited down- chatting agreeably to the officers. It was in that [scoundrelly doctor's true interest to return with ] Hve information. But what, if anything, stopped [him? A general prohibition to leave the town, for stance! There would be patrols! The colonel, seizing his head in his hands, turned Aon himself as if struck with vertigo. A flash of ftvcn inspiration suggested to him an expedient not unknown to European statesmen when they wish to delay a difficult negotiation. Booted and spurred, e scrambled into the hammock with undignified Bite. His handsome face had turned yellow with e strain of weighty cares. The ridge of his shapely Bose had grown sharp; the audacious nostrils appeared mean and pinched. The velvety, caressing glance of s fine eyes seemed dead and even decomposed, for Wtese almond-shaped, languishing orbs had become appropriately bloodshot with much sinister sleep- ftness. He addressed the surprised envoy of Sefior Fwntcs in a deadened, exhausted voice. It came pathetically feeble from under a vast pile of ponchos which buried his elegant person right up to the black mustaches, uncurled, pendent, in sign of bodily pros-

tration and mental incapacity. Fever, fever a heavy