read and the skinny chicken were placed in his hands, he
glanced at them with somewhat of superciliousness.

"The bread will serve for crumbs," he said, and immediately began to
grate the baton-like loaf with a farrier's hoof-rasp which he used in
his culinary operations. "But this," he added, as he turned over the
bird, "is well stricken in years, and had better be given to the
recruits. They have young teeth and have had practice upon dead
artillery mules!"

So saying, he went casually to the edge of the little quarry, whistled a
peculiar note and tossed the bird downward to some person unseen, who
appeared from nowhere in particular for the purpose of receiving it.

When the dinner was ready Sergeant Cardono announced it to Rollo as if
he had been serving a prince. And what was the young man's astonishment
to find a table, covered with a decent white cloth, under the shelter of
a limestone rock, spread for three, and complete even to table napkins,
which the sergeant had tied into various curious shapes.

As they filed down the slope the sergeant stood at attention, but when
El Sarria passed he quickly beckoned him aside with a private gesture.

"You and I will eat after the foreigners," he explained.

El Sarria drew himself up somewhat proudly, but Sergeant Cardono
whispered in his ear two or three words which appeared to astonish him
so much that he did as he was bid, and stood aside while John Mortimer
and Etienne de Saint Pierre seated themselves.

But Rollo, who had no great love for eating, and considered one man just
as much entitled to respect as another, would not sit down till El
Sarria was accommodated also.

"May it please your Excellency, Don Ramon and I have much to say to each
other," quoth the Sergeant, with great respect, "besides your honour is
aware--the garlic--the onions--we of this country love them?"

"But so do I," cried Rollo, "and I will not have distinctions made on
this expedition. We are all to risk our lives equally and we shall all
fare equally, and if we are caught our dose of lead or halter-hemp will
be just the same."

Here El Sarria interrupted.

"With respect," he said, "it is true that this gentleman hath some
private matters to communicate to me which have nothing to do with the
object of our mission. I crave your permission that for to-day I may
dine apart with him!"

After this there was no more to be said. El Sarria helped the sergeant
to serve the meal, which wa