Whether Ochampa suspected Holcomb of being in collusion with his countryman or was merely taking no chances, the prisoner had no way of telling. But the major refused flatly to let the artillery officer into the room. "Tell him he can see the man after the general returns--if the general wants him to see him," he told the messenger. They could hear the voice of Holcomb, angry and insistent, protesting against such treatment. But a file of soldiers stood between him and the room. He had to retire defeated. Slate-colored dawn rolled up without the return of Pasquale. With every passing hour Steve gathered hope. It was certain that Ruth and her friends had escaped through the lines or they must have been brought back long ago. And if they once reached the hills and became lost among them, they would surely be safe from pursuit. The prisoner was drinking a cup of coffee the doctor had brought him when the sound of horses' hoofs came to him through the open window. The voice of Pasquale rang out, and at the sound of it Steve's heart grew chill. For there was in the timbre of it a brutal, jovial triumph. "Take these horses, boys,--feed them, water them. Let the girl go to her room, Ramon, but see that she is watched every minute. Garcia, attend to the Gringos." He strode into the room where Yeager was detained. His greedy little eyes sparkled; his face exuded malice and self-conceit. "Ho, ho, amigo! Who laughs now?" he jeered. "I found your friends--stumbled on them in a pocket of the hills while we were returning. They had lost their way, of course, since Senor Yeager was unfortunately not able to go along. So I brought them home to breakfast. Was I not kind?" He threw back his head and laughed. Steve said nothing. His heart was sick. He had thrown the dice for his great chance and lost. "First, to breakfast," repeated the Mexican. "And afterward--the young lady shall have love. Por Dios, you shall be at the wedding," decided Pasquale on malicious impulse, hammering on the table with his great fist. "If I had only had the sense to pull the trigger last night when I had you at my mercy," Yeager commented aloud. "Yes, you and all her friends--you shall all be there to wish her joy--even Holcomb, who wearies me with his protests. Maldito! Is Gabriel Pasquale not good enough for a kitchen wench from Arizona?" "It's an outrage beyond belief." "And afterward--while the little chatita makes love to Gabriel--her friend Steve whom she loves will suffer his punishment with what fortitude he can." "And her other friends?" "Behold, it is a great day, senor. Not so? If the chatita, linda de mi alma (pugnosed one, pretty creature of my love), asks for their freedom, she shall have it. I, Gabriel, will send them home under safe escort. Am I not generous? A kind lover? Not so?" Steve turned his head away and looked through the window at the sun rising behind the distant hills. There was nothing to be said. CHAPTER XXV