At least he said no more to her of the danger she ran--in the service of love what matters it where peril lies; the sacred nature of the duty renders every obligation a privilege. "Follow me, please, and keep close to the wall. When I stop do likewise and crouch down. Should one of the fellows on the walls call out, make no move, utter no sound, but wait until I direct you." Such were his brief instructions. She gave him to understand that she comprehended all he wished. Then they moved away, keeping close to the rough walls, where the shadows lay thickest. It was a slow and laborious task. Here and there lay heaps of broken bricks, just where they had fallen Heaven alone knew how many years back, since it is a settled Spanish rule never to spoil the picturesque and _bizarre_ by miserable modern attempts at thrift and cleanliness--vines had grown over the _debris_ and moon flowers whitened the face of the rough wall. It may have been very pretty, but it made the task Roderic had marked out more tiresome than it would otherwise have been. He did not grumble however, and Inez would never have complained even though compelled to creep through an acre of prickly pear or cactus--her holy fervor of love sanctified the means, and she blessed the Virgin for allowing her such a privilege to prove her devotion. She was a woman in ten thousand--happy Leon, to possess such a loyal heart. Besides, while temporarily suffering from these accumulation of years, Roderic knew they were soon to profit through something in the same line. Leon had escaped from his former prison by means of a gaping aperture made by an inquisitive Yankee shell--the story of his thrilling adventure had made a deep impression on the mind of Owen, and discovering just such a grand opening in the wall of the old medieval structure against which he had now pitted his forces he resolved to improve upon the experience of Georgia's brother. They could, if given half a show, both enter and make their final exit by this means. He had the location of the opening pretty well in mind, and was heading for it now. They had fully embarked upon their perilous mission, and please Heaven, would sooner or later meet with the anticipated reward. The sentinels paced their beats above on the broad walls, and their "_quien vive_" as they approached each other, together with the answer, came plainly to the ears of those crowded below. Roderic breathed easier when he discovered that they had reached the vicinity of this ragged aperture, for at least one portion of their dangerous journey was over. He exercised double care at this point, for while the coast had appeared clear during the day, that was no sign that it might not be policed after nightfall.