, speaking in Spanish, which
he, as well as Ned, understood perfectly. "You know that we are always
glad to see you here."

Lieutenant Alfonso de Zavala smiled in a quick, responsive way, but in a
moment his face became grave.

"I announce a visitor, a most distinguished visitor, Mr. Austin," he
said. "General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican
Republic and Commander-in-chief of its armies and navies."

Both Mr. Austin and the boy arose and bowed as a small man of middle
years, slender and nervous, strode into the room, standing for a few
moments near its center, and looking about him like a questing hawk. His
was, in truth, an extraordinary presence. He seemed to radiate an
influence that at once attracted and repelled. His dark features were
cut sharply and clearly. His eyes, set closely together, were of the
most intense black that Ned had ever seen in a human head. Nor were
those eyes ever at rest. They roamed over everything, and they seemed to
burn every object for the single instant they fell there. They never met
the gaze of either American squarely, although they continually came
back to both.

This man was clothed in a white uniform, heavy with gold stripes and
gold epaulets. A small sword at his side had a gold hilt set with a
diamond. He wore a three-cornered hat shaped like that of Napoleon, but
instead of the Corsican's simple gray his was bright in color and
splendid with plumage.

He was at once a powerful and sinister figure. Ned felt that he was in
the presence of genius, but it belonged to one of those sinuous
creatures, shining and terrible, that are bred under the vivid sun of
the tropics. There was a singular sensation at the roots of his hair,
but, resolved to show neither fear nor apprehension, he stood and gazed
directly at Santa Anna.

"Be seated, Mr. Austin," said the General, "and close the door, de
Zavala, but remain with us. Your young relative can remain, also. I have
things of importance to say, but it is not forbidden to him, also, to
hear them."

Ned sat down and so did Mr. Austin and young de Zavala, but Santa Anna
remained standing. It seemed to Ned that he did so because he wished to
look down upon them from a height. And all the time the black eyes, like
two burning coals, played restlessly about the room.

Ned was unable to take his own eyes away. The figure in its gorgeous
uniform was so full of nervous energy that it attracted like a magnet,
while at