ridle of the less enthusiastic Adan, was
already far ahead. The boys rode straight into the melee, firing
through the smoke until their ammunition was exhausted. Even Adan after
the first few moments lost all sense of fear, and following Roldan's
example, snatched the gun from a fallen soldier and fired and reloaded
until his hands were blistered, and his eyes half sightless with smoke.

Roldan, obeying his dominant instinct, pushed his way rapidly to the
front, attracting much attention. Some one recognised him, and during
one of the many pauses of this not very systematic and furious battle
some one cheered the little don. The cheer was taken up vociferously.
It boomed across the battlefield. A moment later a man came dashing
across with a flag of truce: the cheering was supposed by the enemy to
herald the advance of reinforcements. The truce was accepted without
explanations, and Roldan was hurried into the presence of Alvarado.
That famous governor was sitting on a magnificent charger, caparisoned
with carved leather, red velvet, silver, and gold. His black eyes were
smiling, although the rest of his pale stern face was composed.

"So this is the runaway," he said. "I demanded you from your father,
and he was much embarrassed to confess that you had fled to escape the
conscription. Well, I am glad you did, for you have saved the day for
me. But it is time you were in Monterey, for you've got the face of the
leader of men, and the sooner your education begins the better. Will
you come with me? Your father will not refuse."

The blood was pounding in Roldan's ears, but he managed to reply calmly
that he would go.

He was then presented to General Castro, a man of fine military
bearing, with classic features, but dark and stern. His eyes were as
sombre as Alvarado's: doubtless both knew that their day would be
short, their great gifts wasted in this far-away land, as remote from
the great civilisations where lasting reputations are made as had it
been on another planet.

He shook Roldan warmly by the hand, but he did not smile.

"Yes," he said, "it will be a pleasure to train you; and as you are
young and malleable you will adapt yourself to the new order of things
when it comes. Both Alvarado and I will write to your father; I am sure
he will send you to us in Monterey."

And then they graciously dismissed him.

As the boys left the battlefield they came upon Hill, who was sitting
on a hillock eating a sandwi