She's a step higher, that same
Pepita; holds her head far above any of us common soldiers--"

"Common soldiers! I'm a corporal; you forget that, _hombre_. But why
do you think my chances are so poor?"

"Because I've heard say there's a man about the establishment to whom
she's already given what heart she may have had to give--that they're
engaged. The fellow's groom or _cochero_, or something of the sort."

Jose breathed easier now, noways provoked at having been spoken of as a
"fellow."

"Bah!" contemptuously exclaimed the corporal. "What care I for that
horse-cleaner and carriage-washer for a rival! I've cut out scores of
such before now, and will do the same with him. Lie down there, you
devil's imp!" he added, turning savagely upon the dwarf, and venting his
spleen by giving the creature a kick. "Down, or I'll break every bone
in your body."

"Mercy, master!" expostulated the hunchback. "Don't be so cruel to a
fellow-creature."

"Fellow-creature! That's good, ha, ha, ha!" And the brute broke out
into a hoarse laugh, till the rocks echoed his fiendish cachinnation.

"Well, your worship," rejoined he thus inhumanly mocked, with an air of
assumed meekness; "whatever I am, it pains me to think I should be the
cause of keeping you here. But why should you stay, may I ask? You
don't suppose I'm going to run away? If I were with you as a prisoner--
but I am not. I sought an interview with your Colonel of my own free
will. Surely you saw that!"

"True enough, he did," interposed the soldier.

"And what if he did?" growled the corporal.

"Only, Senor, to show that I have no intention to part company with you,
nor wish neither. _Por Dios_! don't let me hinder you from having that
chat with the _muchachita_. It's but a step back to the _pueblo_, and
like as not she'll be on the lookout for you, spite of what your comrade
says. Maybe he has an eye to the pretty dear himself, and that's why he
wishes to discourage you."

As this rigmarole was delivered in the most comical manner, it put the
soldiers in a better humour, both breaking out into laughter.

Of course the corporal had no thought of availing himself of the
permission so accorded. Their orders were strict to stay in that spot,
and stay they must. The question was, how were they to spend the time.
A smoke to begin with; and they drew out their cigarritos, with flint,
steel, and tinder.

Soon as the red coal appeared beneath their no