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Put Andrea on watch, and go to sleep. Our first danger is over." Pablo bowed and turned away without another word, and Zuroaga resumed his conference with Tassara, for those two were brave men, and were well-accustomed to the peril-haunted lives they were leading. "Colonel," he said, "it is evident that my young friend Carfora must go with you.
They make a new one every few weeks. They may have let in half a dozen while we've been at sea." "No," said Zuroaga, "but they've tightened their grip on Texas, and I hope they'll hold on hard, if only to keep Paredes and Santa Anna from murdering all the best men in it. Well, Oaxaca lies due south of the State of Vera Cruz, and I can escape into it if I have half a chance.
Ned was now aware that he had entered a broad hall-like passageway, which appeared to run through the house, and to have several doors on each side. One of these doors had opened to let the new light in, and through it also came Señor Zuroaga, two other men, and a young girl, who at once threw her arms around the neck of Colonel Tassara. "O father!" she exclaimed, "I am so glad!
I don't believe they will catch either Tassara or Zuroaga this time. The colonel will soon raise his new regiment, and my old friend will be down in Oaxaca in safety, waiting for the hour that is to come. Paredes would give something to see my last letter from Santa Anna." So there were many plots and counterplots, and the politest men might not be always what they seemed.
At the end of them, the wrath of the Englishman was turned entirely against the culprit bark, which had trifled with his flag. "We must take her, sir!" he shouted. "She's a loose fish o' some kind." It was while this conversation was going on that Señor Zuroaga, after long and careful observations, reported to Captain Kemp concerning the far-away stranger to the westward.
That was just what he might have done if it had not been for his kind and thoughtful friend, the general, if he was one, for Zuroaga now came to the side of the pony to inquire, with a merry laugh: "How are you now, my boy? I knew how it would be. Tired out? Stiff with so long a ride? Lean over this way and I'll help you down. Come!" Ned leaned over and tried to pull his feet out of the stirrups.
For my own part, I believe that Colonel Tassara's court martial can have but one result. His disobedience must be paid for with his life. All conspirators like Zuroaga should be shot as soon as they are captured. This is not a time, my friends, for undue leniency." "Gentlemen," responded Colonel Guerra with graceful courtesy, "I bid you all a brief farewell with sincere regret.
Old Santa Anna wants a war to give him a chance to return from exile and get control of the army. If we ever do reach Vera Cruz, we shall hear of fighting when we get there." "Perhaps," said the captain, "but it will be only a short war, and at the end of it the United States will have stolen Texas." "No, señor," said Zuroaga, with a fierce flash in his eyes.
Something, which looked like the handle of a pistol, stuck out of one of his side pockets, and his fingers wandered to it now and then, as if he might be turning over in his mind the possibility of soon having to shoot a mutineer. Ned was staring anxiously back at the Yankee cruiser at the moment when his shoulder was gripped hard, and Señor Zuroaga almost whirled him around, exclaiming: "Look!
After they are out of power, your own friends, like Tassara, Zuroaga, and the rest of them, may be in office, and you will be in clover. It's a wonderfully rich country, if it were only in the right hands and had a good government. I'll give you the letters when we get to my lodgings. Then I must make my way back to Vera Cruz, but I had to come all this distance to get my pay from the authorities.
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