ht cut off your ears and put out your eyes--"

"For Heaven's sake cease these horrible suggestions! You make my blood run
cold. But you cannot be serious. Is Griscelli in the habit of putting out
the eyes of his prisoners?"

"Not that I am aware of; but I have heard him threaten to do it, and known
him to cut off a rebel's ears first and hang him afterward. All the same I
don't think he is likely to treat you in that way. It might get to the
ears of the captain-general, and though he is not very particular where
rebels are concerned, he draws the line at mutilation."

"We shall soon see; we have to be at the old sugar-mill when the moon
rises," I said, gloomily, for the prospect held out by Guzman was anything
but encouraging.

"And that will be soon. If I see any way of helping you, without
compromising myself, I will. Hospitality has its duties, and I cannot
forget that you have fought and bled for Spain. Have another drink; you
don't know what is before you? And take this knife--it will serve also as
a dagger--and this pocket-pistol. Put them where they will not be seen.
You may find them useful."

"_Gracias!_ But you surely don't think we shall be sent adrift weaponless
and on foot?"

"That is as it may be; but it is well to provide for contingencies. And
now let us start; nothing irritates Griscelli so much as having to wait."

So, girding on our swords (mine had been restored to me "by special
favor," when I gave my parole), we mounted our horses, which were waiting
at the door, and set out.

The savanna was a wide stretch of open ground outside the fortifications,
where reviews were held and the troops performed their evolutions; it lay
on the north side of the town. Farther on in the same direction was a
range of low hills, thickly wooded and ill provided with roads. The
country to the east and west was pretty much in the same condition.
Southward it was more open, and a score of miles away merged into the
llanos.

"We are in good time; the moon is only just rising, and I don't think
there is anybody before us," said Guzman, as we neared the old sugar-mill,
a dilapidated wooden building, shaded by cebia-trees and sombrero palms.

"But there is somebody behind us," I said, looking back. "A squadron of
cavalry at the least."

"Griscelli, I suppose, and Carmen. But why is the general bringing so many
people with him, I wonder? And don't I see dogs?"

"Rather! A pack of hounds, I should say."

"You a