"I will repeat them exactly."
"Very good. Now, begone, we have nothing more to say to each other. Colonel Melendez, be good enough to give this Caballero a horse, and accompany him to the outposts."
"One word more, General."
"Speak."
"In what way shall I bring you the person's answer?"
"Bring it yourself, if you are not afraid to enter my camp a second time."
"You are well aware that I fear nothing, General. I will bring you the answer."
"I wish it; good-bye."
"Farewell," the American answered.
And bowing to the company, he withdrew, accompanied by the Colonel.
"You played a dangerous game," the latter said, when they had gone a few steps; "the General might very easily have had you hung."
The American shrugged his shoulders.
"He would not have dared," he said, disdainfully.
"Oh, oh! and why not, if you please?"
"How does that concern you, Colonel; am I not free?"
"You are."
"That must be sufficient for you, and prove to you that I am not mistaken."
The Colonel led the American to his quarters, and asked him to walk in for a moment, while a horse was being got ready.
"Master Davis," he said to him, "be good enough to select from those weapons, whose excellence I guarantee, such as best suit you."
"Why so?" he remarked.
"Confound it! you are going to travel by night; you do not know whom you may meet. I fancy that under such circumstances it is prudent to take certain precautions."
The two men exchanged a glance; they understood each other.
"That is true," the American said, carelessly; "now that I come to think of it, the roads are not safe. As you permit me, I will take these pistols, this rifle, machete, and knife."
"As you please, but pray take some ammunition as well; without that your firearms would be of no service."
"By Jove! Colonel, you think of everything, you are really an excellent fellow," he added, while carelessly loading his rifle and pistols, and fastening to his belt a powder flask and bullet pouch.
"You overwhelm me, Master Davis; I am only doing now what you would do in my place."
"Agreed. But you display a graciousness which confuses me."
"A truce, if you please, to further compliments. Here is your horse, which my assistant is bringing up."
"But he is leading a second; do you intend to accompany me beyond the advanced posts?"
"Oh, only for a few yards, if my company does not seem to you too wearisome."
"Oh, Colonel, I shall always be delighted to have you for a companion."
All these remarks were made with an accent Of excessive courtesy, in which, however, could be traced an almost imperceptible tinge of fun and biting raillery. The two men left the house and mounted their horses. The night was limpid and clear; millions of stars sparkled in the sky, which seemed studded with diamonds; the moon spread afar its white and fantastic light; the mysterious night breeze bowed the tufted crests of the trees, and softly rippled the silvery waters of the Rio Trinidad, as they died away amorously on the bank.
The two men walked side by side, passing without being challenged by the sentinels, who, at a signal from the Colonel, respectfully stepped back. They soon descended the hill, passed the main guard, and found themselves in the open country. Each of them yielded to the voluptuous calmness of nature, and seemed no longer to be thinking of his comrade. They proceeded thus for more than an hour, and reached a spot where two paths, in crossing, formed a species of fork, in the centre of which stood a cross of evil omen, probably erected in memory of a murder formerly committed at this solitary spot.
As if by common accord, the two horses stopped and thrust out their heads, while laying back their ears and snorting loudly. Suddenly aroused from their reveries and recalled to actual life, the two riders drew themselves up in the saddle, and bent a scrutinising glance around. No human sound disturbed the silence; all around was calm and deserted as in the first days of creation.
"Do you intend, my dear Colonel," the American asked, "to honour me with your charming society any longer?"
"No," the young man answered, bluntly; "I shall stop here."
"Ah!" John Davis continued, with feigned disappointment, "shall we part already?"
"Oh no," the Colonel answered, "not yet."
"In spite of the extreme pleasure I should feel in remaining longer in your company, I am obliged to continue my journey."
"Oh, you will surely grant me a few moments, Master Davis?" the other said, with an emphasis on each syllable.
"Well, a few moments, but no more; for I have a long distance to go, and whatever pleasure I feel in conversing with you—"
"You alone," the Colonel interrupted him, "shall decide the time we shall remain together."
"It is impossible to display greater courtesy."
"Master Davis," the Colonel said, raising his voice, "have you forgotten the last conversation we had together?"
"My dear Colonel, you must know me well enough to be sure that I only forget those things which I ought not to remember."
"Which means?"
"That I perfectly well remember the conversation to which you allude."
"All the better. In that case your excellent memory spares me half the trouble, and we shall soon come to an understanding."
"I believe so."
"Do you not find the spot where we are admirably adapted for what we have to do?"
"I consider it delicious, my dear Colonel."
"Then, with your consent, we will dismount?"
"At your orders; there is nothing I detest so much as a lengthened conversation on horseback."
They leaped to the ground and tied up their horses.
"Do you take your rifle?" the American inquired.
"Yes, if you have no objection."
"Not at all. Then we are going to see some sport?"
"Oh yes, but on this occasion the game will be human."
"Which will add greatly to the interest of the sport."
"Come, you are a delightful comrade, Master Davis."
"What would you, Colonel? I never was able to refuse my friends anything."
"Where shall we place ourselves?"
"I trust to you entirely for that."
"Look! On each side the road are bushes, which seem to have grown for the express purpose."
"That is really singular. Well, we will each hide behind one of the bushes, count ten, and then fire."
"First-rate; but suppose we miss? I am perfectly well aware that we are both first-rate