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He is a delightful companion, full of fun, and always laughing and joking. Plaza is older and more of a soldier, but I owe a great deal to his kindness." "We will endeavour to repay it, my boy," said she brightly, kissing me good-night. "Don't stay up too long. Remember you have to attend the levee in the morning." When she had retired, I asked my father for news of Raymon Sorillo.
As it was, I stayed contentedly in the valley, waiting until the Indians received the signal to move. From that time we heard rumours of hard fighting in various parts of the country, and about the middle of March 1821 a messenger arrived from Raymon Sorillo.
"It is nothing," replied he carelessly. "And three of your followers have not returned!" "It cost six lives to kill them," he answered, with fierce satisfaction, passing into the hut. This expedition was followed by others, and from the talk in the valley I gathered that Sorillo had started the Indians on the war-trail.
His eyes were shifty and cunning, his lips full and thick; he did not seem to be at all the kind of man to play so daring a game. Don Felipe looked at him so scornfully that he turned away his face in confusion. He gave his answers clearly, however, and told the story from beginning to end without a tremor. It was as Sorillo had said.
The guerillas, split up into groups, had gone, some this way, some that, to watch the movements of the Royalist troops. Sorillo had kept me company till we cleared the pass, when he, too, with a word of farewell, rode away. It was now dusk, and, as the chief had truly said, there was no time to waste; yet I did not move.
The name carried no meaning to the Spanish brigands; but the Indians received it with a great shout, for they knew how greatly my father had suffered in his efforts to make their lives easier. They would have pressed round me to touch my hand, but the chief waved them back, saying I wanted food and rest. They made a space beside the fire, and Sorillo himself attended to my injuries.
However, the old woman appeared satisfied, and at a sign from her the stricken man was carried slowly up the path. One native attended to the horse, and the rest returned to their huts, talking excitedly of what had happened. "Is that a messenger from Raymon Sorillo, Quilca?" I asked my host. "Yes," said he, "and he has had a very narrow escape. He has been caught in a sandstorm.
"No bones broken," said he, after making an examination with as much skill as a surgeon. "We have only to reduce this swelling of the ankle. You can make yourself comfortable for a fortnight, at least. Now you must have some food, and then we'll talk." Now, I have no wish to give you a false impression of Raymon Sorillo.
His courage had broken down completely, and to all the questions put by his self-appointed judge he answered no word. At length Sorillo asked his officers for their verdict, and with one consent they pronounced him "Guilty!" "It is a true verdict," exclaimed Sorillo; "any other would be a lie. And now, Felipe Montilla, listen to me for the last time.
Why the Indians had committed this outrage was a mystery, and I could think of nothing which would help me to solve it. That Don Felipe had acted treacherously I could well believe; but why, in that case, did not Sorillo hand him over to the government? Why should the officers of the Silver Key take it upon themselves to try him?
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