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Updated: June 25, 2025
"I am glad for your own sake that you think so," said the officer gravely. "I grow attached to my birds with their clipped wings, and only desire their welfare. There was a young fellow here once, a pretty boy, señor, like yourself" Alzura bowed gracefully "and I had grown to love him. But he got tired of the place and the company, I suppose, and one night he slipped into the water.
The troopers responded with a ringing "Viva!" and as we got a firmer seat on our saddles, Alzura remarked, "That's the way to talk, Juan. These fellows will fight to the death now." There was something fresh happening on the other side, but we had no time to see what it was. The bugle sounded, and with the colonel leading we dashed straight across the valley.
In the leader I recognized Bolivar; and, to my great satisfaction, Colonel Miller was one of his suite. "Your men seem to be enjoying themselves, colonel," we heard Bolivar remark; "what is it all about?" At that moment Miller caught sight of us, and leaving the general's question unanswered, called us over, saying, "Alzura! Crawford! Where have you been, my boys? We had quite given you up.
Now, while you've been playing, we've been at work." "Oh," cried Alzura, smiling blandly, "that would be a change for you!" "We've made roads," said Cordova, with a solemn air, "built huts, collected fuel, carried corn, and driven cattle. We've worked harder than the labourers on your father's estates." "Glad to hear it," laughed my chum. "I thought Bolivar would make something of you.
He was very curious about our escape, and could barely credit that we had crossed the morass without assistance. "It has been done before," he said, "but only once or twice, and then by natives." "We shan't do it again," laughed Alzura. "It nearly turned our hair white. It was the nastiest experience I have ever had worse than when the Royalists cut us up at Torata."
Apparently my words were interpreted for the benefit of our captors, who jabbered together for a considerable time, while Alzura and I anxiously awaited the result of the conference. At last the leader of the horsemen, turning to me, said, "Señor, it is decided that I shall take you to the army, where your words can be proved. If your story is not true, you will be shot as spies."
This was used as a prison for captured officers of the Patriot forces, and the very first person to greet me as I stepped inside the room was the lively Alzura. "Juan Crawford," cried he, "by all that's wonderful! From the ballroom to the prison-house! There's a splendid subject for the moralist. Where have you been, Juan? your people think you are dead.
When the summons actually came, I was not in the least surprised. Alzura, who brought it me, had no idea he was assisting at a tragedy, but, with a merry laugh, exclaimed, "Crawford, there is a lady outside waiting to see you; she will not leave her carriage." "Who is it?" I asked. "I don't know; I haven't seen her. A servant gave me the message, and I set off to find you."
"'Twill save horseflesh, and we shall be doing something for our living," I added. Some of the soldiers now went to the front of us, some to the rear; the door was flung wide open. "March!" cried the officer, and into the corridor we marched, through the yard, and so into the open road. "Out at last," I remarked to Alzura. "The Royalists have hit on an even simpler plan than yours."
About midday a halt was called, our fastenings were loosened, while we were allowed to sit down and eat a ration of meat which was served out to each of us. Some of the soldiers rested; others stood on guard, with orders to shoot any man who made the slightest effort to escape. "They needn't fear my running far," said Alzura ruefully, showing me his bleeding feet.
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