what I can to assuage his severity."

"I thank you, Colonel Almonte," said Ned with a gravity beyond his
years. "You are a generous enemy, and chance may help me some day to
return your kindness, but whatever treatment General Cos may accord me,
I hope I shall be able to stand it."

In another hour they saw a column of dust ahead of them. The column grew
and soon Ned saw lances and bayonets shining through it. He knew that
this was the army of Cos, and, just as the eastern light began to fade,
they joined it. Cos was going into camp by the side of a small stream,
and, after a little delay, Almonte took the prisoner to him.

A large tent had been erected for General Cos, but he was sitting before
it, eating his supper. A cook was serving him with delicate dishes and
another servant filled his glass with red wine. His dark face darkened
still further, as he looked at Ned, but he saluted Almonte courteously.
It was evident to Ned that through family or merit, probably both,
Almonte stood very high in the Mexican service.

"I have the honor to report to you, General Cos," said Almonte, "that we
have retaken the young Texan who escaped through the bars of his prison
at the capital. We found him in the mountains overcome by exhaustion."

General Cos' lips opened in a slow, cold smile,--an evil smile that
struck a chill to Ned's heart. Here was a man far different from the
gallant and gay young Almonte. That cruel strain which he believed was
in the depths of the Spanish character, dormant though it might usually
be, was patent now in General Cos. Moreover, this man was very powerful,
and, as brother-in-law of Santa Anna, he was second only to the great
dictator. He did not ask Ned to sit down and he was brusque in speech.
The air about them grew distinctly colder. Almonte had talked with Ned
in English, but Cos spoke Spanish:

"Why did you run away from the capital?" he asked, shortly. "You were
treated well there."

"No man can be held in prison and be treated well."

General Martin Perfecto de Cos frowned. The bearing of the young Gringo
did not please him. Nor did his answer.

"I repeat my question," he said, his voice rising. "Why did you run like
a criminal from the capital? You were with the man Austin. You, like he,
were the guest of our great and illustrious Santa Anna who does no
wrong. Answer me, why did you slip away like a thief?"

"I slipped away, but it was not like a thief nor any other kind of
crim