"No, General," the young man answered, saluting. "I beg to say that as far back as Nogales I pointed out the condition of these beasts, and also where in that place fresh animals were to be found: but I was bidden to hold my tongue." "Do you admit this?" Paget swung round again upon the Assistant-Paymaster. "Upon my word, Sir," the poor man tried to bluster, "I am not to be cross-examined in this fashion. I do not belong to the reserve, and I take my orders----" "Then what the devil are you doing here? And how is it I catch you ordering my reserve about? By the look of it, a moment ago you were even attempting to teach my horse-artillery its business." "He was urging me, Sir," said the artillery-captain grimly, "to abandon my guns and hitch my teams on to his carts." The General's expression changed, and he bent upon the little man in blue a smile that was almost caressing. "I beg your pardon, Sir: it appears that I have quite failed to appreciate you." "Do not mention it, Sir. You see, with a sum of twenty-five thousand pounds at stake----" "And your reputation." "To be sure, and my reputation; though that, I assure you, was less in my thoughts. With all this at stake----" "Say rather 'lost.' I am going to pitch it down the mountain." "But it is money!" almost screamed the little man. "So are shot and shells. Twenty-eighth, forward, and help the guard to overturn the carts!" Even the soldiers were staggered for a moment by this order. Impossible as they saw it to be to save the treasure, they were men; and the instinct of man revolts from pouring twenty-five thousand pounds over a precipice. They approached, unstrapped the tarpaulin covers, and feasted their eyes on stacks of silver Spanish dollars. "You cannot mean it, Sir! I hold you responsible----" Speech choked the Assistant-Paymaster, and he waved wild arms in dumbshow. But the General did mean it. At a word from him the artillerymen stood to their guns, and at another word the fatigue party of the 28th climbed off the carts, put their shoulders to the wheels and axle-trees, and with a heave sent the treasure over in a jingling avalanche. A few ran and craned their necks to mark where it fell: but the cliffs just here were sharply undercut, and everywhere below spread deep drifts to receive and cover it noiselessly. After the first rush and slide no sound came up from the depths into which it had disappeared. The men strained their ears to listen. They were listening still when, with a roar, the two guns behind them spoke out, hurling their salutation into Soult's advance guard as it swung into view around the corner of the road. II