A tear stole into Fanny’s eye, as she thought upon the suffering that William was then experiencing in a foreign prison. ‘At Havana, in the island of Cuba,’ said Fanny, musingly to herself; 4 can you describe the port, my friend?’ ‘Why it’s a sunny little basin, not so very small neither, and quite land-locked and guarded by the castle and its entrance, tho’ for the matter of that, the castle is’nt always manned--at any rate ‘twas’nt the night we went in with the tag-boat. It’s a pocket of a place, Miss, large enough to hold a thousand sail and yet not more than one can work in or out at a time. It’s in the hands of the Spaniard now, from whom the English took it awhile ago, but have given it back again. Altogether it’s a fine harbor, as far as that goes, why, Miss?’ ‘Oh, I was curious about it.’ ‘It did’nt bless our eyes very often, I can tell you, Miss. We all saw it once, when we were rode out in a great cart hauled by jackasses to the court of the Governor General, the old tyrant!’ and here honest Jack Herbert made divers passes with his clenched fist in the air as though he was pummelling the identical functionary in question, just about the ribs and eyes. ‘In close confinement all the time,’ said Fanny thoughtfully, and more to herself than to her companion, or for the purpose of eliciting an answer. ‘Close enough, lady, being’s we never went out, saving the time I have just told you of in the jackass team,’ said Herbert, pausing out of breath at the exertion of thrashing the Governor General in imagination. ‘Did you inform yourself concerning the localities of the neighborhood,’ asked Fanny, still half musing to herself. ‘Why, yes, Miss, a little when I got out.’ ‘And the prison--is that well guarded?’ ‘Only by the jailor, a rough, gray old Spaniard, and three or four soldiers at the different angles of the walls.’ ‘Look ye, good Herbert, would you join an expedition for the release of your old comrades?’ asked Fanny, with animation. ‘Would’nt I? perhaps I hav’nt suffered with them, and don’t know what it is to be cooped up in a damp, stone prison, with just enough food to keep you alive, and make you long for more; join? yes, to-morrow, Miss.’ ‘Where do you live in the town?’ ‘Just at the foot of Copp’s Hill.’ ‘Could one find you there if need be?’ ‘Ay, Miss, at most any hour’.’ ‘Well, good Herbert, you may soon meet with one who will engage with you in an enterprise that may gain you not only a name, but a fortune also. Will you be prepared?’ ‘That I will--a fortune?’ ‘Aye, and fame to boot’ ‘That would be good news.’ ‘Say nothing of this to any one.’ ‘Oh, I’m mum, Miss, if you wish.’