“Make it that I can have a naked blade, at least, and die fighting as a soldier should, caballero. If you have good blood in your veins, if ever you rejoiced in the name of gentleman, grant me this!” “You are taking the flavour out of our game. I did not think you would beg favours.” “Beg favours of you! Then I do not, caballero. Do as you will with me--I’ll have none of your game.” “Yet I must have some amusement before I go to sleep. Suppose you three soldiers have the game between you? Dice with death, eh? The two who throw lowest will be given to the hostiles. The one who throws highest will receive life and liberty.” “I live or die with my comrades, caballero! I do not gamble with them in a matter of life or death!” “Sergeant Cassara,” said the caballero, “you are a good soldier and a loyal man.” He arose and bowed, and walked to the door. Taking down the bars and motioning for the gentile to stand there, he went out into the darkness. Near the wall he listened for a time, but heard nothing. He was quite sure the remainder of the soldiers would spend the night at the mission, else in the hills, but it was best to be certain and not be caught like a rat in a trap. Returning to the barracks-room, he closed and barred the door again, drank another swallow of wine, and stepped across to the officers’ room. “I leave you until morning, _señores_,” he said. “Your fate will be decided then.... Gentile, attend me!” And then, followed by the Indian, he entered the other room and closed the door behind him. “I can trust you?” he asked the gentile. “To the death, _señor_. You saved me from a beating. And are you not Captain Fly-by-Night?” “Fetch me quill, ink and paper from that shelf. So! I have a message to write.” “I am to carry it, _señor_?” “No. You are to slip outside, climb the wall, and take station at the corner of it. If you hear horsemen in the distance you are to warn me at once--you understand?” “But the others----” “What others?” “The hundred men waiting outside, _señor_.” “Ah! ’Twas a jest at the expense of our sergeant. There has been no attack yet. And I am here alone.” “Then you are in grave danger, _señor_? How does it happen you are here alone, when the soldiers hope to capture you? Why are you not at the camp?” “That is my business, gentile!” “But the camp--! You have betrayed it! You have told the true location to these men!” “Do not let that concern you, gentile.” “It is, perhaps, a trick to fool them, to draw them into a trap?” “Did I not say for you to attend to your own affairs, gentile? In a moment I shall be angry. Watch outside, as I instructed. If any one approaches, warn me at once. Look in at the window now and then, and be sure those in the other room do not get free. And come here to awaken me in three hours’ time.” “It shall be done, _señor_.” The gentile went out; the caballero sat at the table and wrote his message, and read it, and laughed lightly.