"By all means; there can be no harm in hearing what the fellow has to
say. It may be about some threatened invasion of the savages; and as
protectors of the people, you, ayudante, know it's our duty to do
whatever we can for warding off such a catastrophe."

The colonel laughs at his sorry jest; the adjutant expressing his
appreciation of it in a shrug of the shoulders, accompanied by a grim
smile.

"Bring the brute in!" is the command that followed, succeeded by the
injunction.

"Stay outside in the court till I send for or call you. The fellow may
have something to say intended for only one pair of ears. Take a glass
of the _mezcal_, light cigarrito, and amuse yourself as you best may."

The adjutant obeys the first two of these directions; then, stepping out
of the _sala_, leaves his superior officer alone.

Uraga glances around to assure himself that there are weapons within
reach. With a conscience like his, a soul charged with crime, no
wonder.

His sabre rests against the wall close to his hand, while a pair of
dragoon pistols, both loaded, lie upon the table.

Satisfied with the proximity of these weapons, he sits upright in his
chair and tranquilly awaits the entrance of the Indian.

CHAPTER FORTY.

A CONFIDENCE WELL REWARDED.

Only a short interval, a score of seconds elapses, when the door, once
more opening, admits the expected visitor. The adjutant, after ushering
him into the room, withdraws, and commences pacing to and fro in the
patio.

Colonel Gil Uraga feels very much inclined to laugh as he contemplates
the new-comer, and reflects on the precautions he has taken. A poor
devil of an Indian _peon_, in coarse woollen _tilma_, tanned sheepskin
trousers reaching only to the knee, bare legs below, _guaraches_ upon
his feet, and a straw hat upon his head; his long black hail hanging
unkempt over his shoulders; his mien humble and looks downcast, like all
of his tribe. Yet it might be seen that, on occasion, his eyes could
flash forth a light, indicative of danger--a fierce, fiery light, such
as may have shone in the orbs of his ancestors when they rallied around
Guatimozin, and with clubs and stakes beat back the spears and swords of
their Spanish invaders.

At the entrance of this humble personage, into the splendidly furnished
apartment, his first act is to pull off his tattered straw hat, and make
lowly obeisance to the gorgeously attired officer he sees sitting behind
the tab