they gave him, said nothing, and lay down
on his serape to seek sleep. Almonte came to him there.

"I feared this," he said. "I would have saved you from General Cos had I
been able."

"I know it," said Ned warmly, "and I want to thank you, Colonel
Almonte."

Almonte held out his hand and Ned grasped it. Then the Mexican strode
away. Ned lay back again and watched the darkness thin as the moon and
stars came out. Far off the silver cone of Orizaba appeared like a spear
point against the sky. It towered there in awful solemnity above the
strife and passion of the world. Ned looked at it long, and gradually it
became a beacon of light to him, his "pillar of flame" by night. It was
the last thing he saw as he fell asleep, and there was no thought then
in his mind of the swart and menacing Cos.

They resumed the march early in the morning. Ned no longer had his
patient burro, but walked on foot among the Tlascalans. Often he saw
General Cos riding ahead on a magnificent white horse. Sometimes the
peons stood on the slopes and looked at them but generally they kept far
from the marching army. Ned surmised that they had no love of military
service.

The way was not easy for one on foot. Clouds of dust arose, and stung
nose and throat. The sharp lava or basalt cut through the soles of
shoes, and at midday the sun's rays burned fiercely. Weakened already by
the hardships of his flight Ned was barely able to keep up. Once when he
staggered a horseman prodded him with the butt of his lance. Ned was not
revengeful, but he noted the man's face. Had he been armed then he
would have struck back at any cost. But he took care not to stagger
again, although it required a supreme effort.

They halted about an hour at noon, and Ned ate some rough food and drank
water with the Tlascalans. He was deeply grateful for the short rest,
and, as he sat trying to keep himself from collapse, Almonte came up and
held out a flask.

"It is wine," he said. "It will strengthen you. Drink."

Ned drank. He was not used to wine, but he had been so near exhaustion
that he took it as a medicine. When he handed the flask back the color
returned to his face and the blood flowed more vigorously in his veins.

"General Cos does not wish me to see you at all," said Almonte. "He
thinks you should be treated with the greatest harshness, but I am not
without influence and I may be able to ease your march a little."

"I know that you will do it if you ca