Under such pressure further resistance was utterly out of the question, and the heavy barrier quickly gave way.
Inez would have rushed headlong in but Roderic's sturdy arm prevented—he believed it was his duty to still lead the van so long as the future was unknown—it would be time enough to yield that place of vantage to his frail companion in the venture when success had been assured.
So they passed into the gloomy dungeon, the history of which would doubtless prove interesting reading as shedding a strong light upon Spain's methods of colonizing, for in the years gone no doubt many a political prisoner had been tortured here with all the despotic barbarism that marked the infernal Inquisition of old.
Looking eagerly around the cell Roderic almost immediately discovered the object of his search.
Some one was standing beside a chair at the further end—some one who had evidently risen hastily at the sound of the clanking iron bar—some one who uttered a cry at their rough entrance.
Roderic saw and was at once struck with the astonishing likeness to Georgia in the smooth faced young man standing there; but he had been prepared for that fact since she herself had impressed it on his mind when he demanded how he might know Leon should he meet him.
Yes, brother and sister were very much alike and the sight of him just then gave Roderic something of a shock, since it seemed as though he were gazing upon Georgia.
There was no longer any need of restraining Inez—at sight of the prisoner she had uttered a cry bubbling over with limitless delight and unable to longer keep back the eager desire to reach him, to convince her ravished eyes that they did not deceive her soul, she sped forward.
Not straighter does the arrow fly from the warrior's bow than this devoted Spanish girl went to the object of her devotion.
Surely eyes of love could easily recognize in the seeming youth the beautiful daughter of Morro's governor.