s cigar, and consuming it through sheer spite,
Roblez endeavours to soothe him by consolative speech.

"What matters it, after all!" puts in the confederate. "It may be that
everything has been for the best. I was wrong, no doubt, in advising as
I did. Still, as you see, it's gained us some advantage."

"Advantage! To me the very reverse. Only to think of being chased
about my own camp by a man who is my prisoner! And before the eyes of
everybody! A pretty story for our troopers to tell when they get back
to Albuquerque! I, Colonel commanding, will be the jest of the
_cuartel_!"

"Nothing of the kind, colonel! There is nothing to jest about. Your
prisoner chanced to possess himself of your sword--a thing no one could
have anticipated. He did it adroitly, but then you were at the time
unsuspecting. Disarmed, what else could you do but retreat from a man,
armed, desperate, determined on taking your life. I'd like to see
anyone who'd have acted otherwise. Under the circumstances only an
insane man would keep his ground. The episode has been awkward, I
admit. But it's all nonsense--excuse me for saying so--your being
sensitive about that part of it. And for the rest, I say again, it's
given us an advantage; in short, the very one you wanted, if I
understand your intentions aright."

"In what way?"

"Well, you desired a pretext, didn't you?"

"To do what?"

"Court-martial your prisoners, condemn, and execute them. The attempt
on your life will cover all this, so that the keenest scandal-monger may
not open his lips. It will be perfectly _en regie_ for you to hang or
shoot Don Valerian Miranda--and, if you like, the doctor, too--after ten
minutes' deliberation over a drum's head. I'm ready to organise the
court according to your directions."

To this proposal Uraga replies with a significant smile, saying:

"Your idea is not a bad one; but I chance to have a better. Much as I
hate Miranda and wish him out of the way, I don't desire to imbrue my
hands in his blood; don't intend to, as I've already hinted to you."

Roblez turns upon his superior officer a look of incredulous _surprise,
interrogating_,--

"You mean to take him back, and let him be tried in the regular way?"

"I mean nothing of the kind."

"I thought it strange, after your telling me he would never leave this
place alive."

"I tell you so still."

"Colonel! you take pleasure in mystifying me. If you're not going to
try yo