."

"Not yet, thank you. I want to ask you a question first. What have
you done with Don Felipe Montilla?"

"The dog is in the hut yonder."

He spoke with both anger and contempt; his face underwent a sudden
change; for the first time I saw how cruel it could look. My heart
sank as I realized the uselessness of any appeal to him for mercy.
Then I thought of Rosa, and said,--

"It is on Don Felipe's account I am here. What has he done? Why has
he been brought here?"

"If another dared question me like this, I would answer him with a
pistol shot," he cried fiercely; "but I do not forget that you are the
son of Don Eduardo Crawford. Come, let us eat and forget this
business."

"Will you tell me afterwards?"

"I will tell you nothing, but you shall hear for yourself. To-morrow
the man will be tried, and if he is found guilty, not all South America
shall save him. But we will try him fairly, and you shall bear witness
to our justice."

"I want mercy!" said I.

"You do not know what you ask yet. Wait till the morning. And now
come; you must not be able to accuse me of inhospitality."

The guerillas led away my horses, and I followed Sorillo to his own
hut, where in a short time a plentiful meal was laid. I was both
hungry and thirsty, yet I had to force myself to eat and drink.
Sorillo made no attempt at conversation, and I did not care to talk.

When the things were removed, he had a bed made on the floor, and
suggested I should lie down.

"I am busy," said he. "Most likely I shall be up all night, but that
is no reason why you should not rest. I will have you wakened in good
time in the morning."

"Thank you," I answered; and as he left the hut I lay down on the bed
and closed my eyes.

Though tired out, hours passed before I was able to sleep. In the
darkness I could see Rosa's white face, and hear her pitiful cry, "Save
him, Juan, save him for me!"

What had he done to make Sorillo so angry? Surely he was not so bitter
against every traitor? He had hinted that even I would not beg for
mercy when I knew the truth. It would have to be something very
dreadful, I thought, to make me forget my promise to Rosa.

And what of Don Felipe? How was he passing the night? Did he know the
charge to be brought against him in this most irregular court? and
would he be able to clear himself? I wondered.

So thinking and dreaming, between sleep and wakefulness, I lay on the
chief's bed, while the