Who, indeed, could blame you who had
fought well and risked your men and yourself in the performance
of your sacred duty? Rozales, should such a thing
occur what could I do in token of my great pleasure other
than make you a colonel?"
"I shall defend them with my life, my general," cried
Rozales, bowing low.
"Good!" cried Pesita. "That is all."
Rozales started back toward the ring of smokers.
"Ah, Captain!" cried Pesita. "Another thing. Will you make
it known to the other officers that the stranger from Granavenoo
is a captain and that it is my wish that he be well treated,
but not told so much as might injure him, or his usefulness,
about our sacred work of liberating poor, bleeding unhappy
Mexico."
Again Rozales bowed and departed. This time he was not
recalled.
Billy found Bridge and Miguel squatting on the ground
with two dirty-faced peons standing guard over them. The
latter were some little distance away. They made no objection
when Billy approached the prisoners though they had looked
in mild surprise when they saw him crossing toward them
without a guard.
Billy sat down beside Bridge, and broke into a laugh.
"What's the joke?" asked Bridge. "Are we going to be
hanged instead of being shot?"
"We ain't goin' to be either," said Billy, "an' I'm a captain.
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