"I must insist, also, that the two vessels captured by your squadron be brought into this harbour and anchored astern of my brig before to-morrow evening. I give you until then as the winds are light, but there must be no delay. Now, general, I must have your answer, as time is passing, or, before long, we shall have your vessels blown into the air. I require the immediate liberation of all the prisoners still alive. With regard to the rest, my government will settle with you by-and-by," and Murray took out his watch, and carelessly held it up, so that the general and his officers might see the time. The action had an electric effect on all present; the general held a brief consultation with his officers, and, though he attempted to bluster a little, they agreed forthwith to give up the prisoners. "You have got on admirably, captain," observed the consul, as he and his companions left the hall. "Your mode of proceeding will always be successful when practised on people like those with whom we have at present to deal, and on a larger scale, probably, with most of the nations of the earth." CHAPTER FOURTEEN. TOM AND ARCHY IN PRISON--THEIR TRICK ON THE GAOLER--SOLDIERS APPEAR-- TAKEN FROM PRISON--MEET COLONEL O'REGAN--MARCHED THROUGH THE TOWN-- PRISONERS GOING TO EXECUTION--DISTANT CANNONADING HEARD--THE FIRING-PARTY--DEATH OF COLONEL O'REGAN--THE MIDSHIPMEN TRY TO HELP HIM-- CARRIED BACK TO PRISON--THEY AND STELLA LIBERATED BY MURRAY. We must return to the night when Gerald Desmond and Needham made their escape from the prison. As soon as they were gone, Tom Rogers and Archy Gordon set to work on the bar, and by hauling and pulling gradually worked it back into its former position. They then stuck on the rust as before, and swept the windows clear of the filings and remaining bits of rust, which might have betrayed them. "Now, Miss O'Regan, do lie down and take some rest," said Tom, ever thoughtful of others. "You need it much already, and you cannot tell what fatigue you may have shortly to go through. I have hopes that before long we shall get out of prison, and in the meantime it will puzzle the gaoler to know how our friends have escaped, unless he happens to hit upon this bar, and that I hope he will not do." Tom and Archy returned to their own room. "The longer the gaolers remain ignorant of the escape of Desmond and Needham the better," observed Tom. "I think that I can contrive to rig up two figures which may help to do so. Fortunately, Needham has left his red handkerchief behind him, that must serve as his night-cap. I will make the head of straw, and cover it with my handkerchief, the body we must form by heaping up the straw and then throwing a rug over it. Now, Archy, your handkerchief must serve as Desmond's head, and we will put your cap on the top of it."