Accordingly he brushed the girl aside in an ugly manner that betrayed his nasty temper--brushed her away as carelessly as one might dispose of a fly that persisted in annoying the early morning nap of a sybarite. Then he gave tongue, denouncing the other in unmeasured terms as a Yankee spy come to wreck their forts, to betray the city, to do anything and everything that was dreadful in the eyes of good loyal Spaniards. It made quite a striking scene, with the picturesque Julio in his dashing garb thus violently shouting his private opinion of Yankees in general and the one before them in particular, while the beautiful daughter of Morro's governor was clinging to his gesticulating arm and endeavoring to overcome his mad language, the crowd meanwhile beginning to shout answering cries that announced their quick grasp of the situation. Roderic would not soon forget that picture, if he lived through the adventure. Again he owed much to that love of fair play predominating in the breast of gentle woman. It had however, gone beyond any power on her part to prevent an explosion. If he escaped with a whole skin it must be through his own exertions. Fortunately he was able to grasp the situation and bring order out of seeming chaos. The one sweeping glance which he had taken around had told him of an avenue where a desperate man could find a chance. As in many parts of San Juan the houses in this narrow _calle_ were rich in the possession of balconies--Spaniards would be lost without some such addition to their homes, for the women live half of the time upon these overhanging galleries. The sound of angry voices in the street had brought a number of people out, and they were curious spectators of what followed. Chance, or Providence, as you will, had taken Roderic directly underneath one of these balconies. By raising his hands above his head he could just touch it. To an agile man it was a small matter to give an upward leap and secure a firm grasp above; nor did he consider it any extraordinary feat to draw himself over the railing after the manner of an athlete. Cries of astonishment announced that his intention had become known to the crowd, and almost paralyzed them. Mingled with these exclamations were shouts of rage from those more disposed to action. Julio, being the nearest was the first to make a spring for the swaying body of the Yankee, but miscalculating the pendulum movement of his body he was just in time to receive the full impetus of his forward swing. As a consequence he took a sudden tumble, bringing up in the arms of the nearest soldiers. Roderic had good intentions, and was not to be thwarted by such minor disturbances. This must be looked upon only as an incident, one of those petty affairs which, when grasped in the general run of events are to be throttled and cast aside.