ning had not two
soldiers come with a message that he was wanted by Santa Anna himself.

Ned rose, smoothed out his hair, draped his serape as gracefully as he
could about his shoulders, and, assuming all the dignity that was
possible, went with the men. He had made up his mind that boldness of
manner and speech was his best course and it suited his spirit. He was
led into a large tent or rather a great marquee, and he stood there for
a few moments dazzled.

The floor of the marquee was spread with a thick velvet carpet. A table
loaded with silver dishes was between the generals, and a dozen lamps on
the walls shed a bright light over velvet carpet, silver dishes and the
faces of the two men who held the fortunes of Mexico in the hollows of
their hands. General Cos smiled the same cold and evil smile that Ned
had noticed at their first meeting, but Santa Anna spoke in a tone half
of surprise and half of pity.

"Ah, it is the young Fulton! And he is in evil plight! You would not
accept my continued hospitality at the capital, and behold what you have
suffered!"

Ned looked steadily at him. He could not fathom the thought that lay
behind the words of Santa Anna. The man was always appearing to him in
changing colors. So he merely waited.

"It was a pleasure to me," said Santa Anna, "to learn from General Cos
that you had been retaken. Great harm might have come to you wandering
through the mountains and deserts of the north. You could never have
reached the Texans alive, and since you could not do so it was better to
have come back to us, was it not?"

"I have not come willingly."

General Cos frowned, but Santa Anna laughed.

"That was frank," he said, "and we will be equally frank with you. You
would go north to the Texans, telling them that I mean to come with an
army and crush them. Is it not so?"

"It is," replied Ned boldly.

Santa Anna smiled. He did not seem to be offended at all. His manner,
swift, subtle and changing, was wholly attractive, and Ned felt its
fascination.

"Be your surmise true or not," said the dictator, "it is best for you
not to reach Texas. I have discussed the matter with my brother, General
Cos, in whom I have great confidence, and we have agreed that since you
undertook to reach Vera Cruz you can go there. General Cos will be your
escort on the way, and, as I go to the capital in the morning, I wish
you a pleasant journey and a happy stay in our chief seaport."

It seemed to