"_Carrambo_! I suppose they are synonymous terms. To all appearance you are right," continued he, catching sight of my uniform, as he turned half round in the doorway. "But what's the use?" he continued. "What advantage can our country derive from killing a poor devil like this?" I felt half indignant at the speech. I recognised in the speaker the handsome youth who had been before me with Mercedes Villa-Senor! A bitter chance that should have made _him_ my protector! "Let them come on!" I cried, driven to desperation at the thought; "I need no protection from you, sir--thanks all the same! I hold the lives of at least twelve of these gentlemen in my hands. After that, they shall be welcome to mine. Stand aside, and see how I shall scatter the cowardly rabble. Aside, sir!" If I was not mad, my protector must have thought me so. "_Carrambo_, senor!" he responded, without showing himself in the least chafed by my ungrateful answer. "You are perhaps not aware of the danger you are in. If I but say the word, you are a dead man." "You'll say it, _capitano_!" shouted one on the outside. "Why not? The Yankee has insulted you. Let's punish him, if it be only for that!" "_Muera! Muera el Americano_!" My assailants, freshly excited by these cries, came surging towards the door. "_Al atras, leperos_!" shouted my protector. "The first that sets foot over my threshold--humble as it is--I shall spit upon my sword, like a piece of _tasajo_. You are very brave here in the Callecito de los Pajaros! I doubt whether there's one among you who has met the enemy-- either at Vera Cruz, or Cerro Gordo!" "You're mistaken there, capitan Moreno!" answered a tall dark man who stood out in front of his fellows, and whom I recognised as the chief of the trio who had first attacked me, "Here's one who has been in both the battles you are pleased to speak of; and who has come out of them, not like your noble self--a prisoner upon parole!" "Captain Carrasco, if I mistake not?" sneeringly retorted my protector. "I can believe that of you. Not likely to be a prisoner of any kind. No doubt you took care to get well out of the way before the time when prisoners were being taken?" "_Carajo_!" screamed the swarthy disputant, his face turning livid with rage. "You say that? You have heard it, _camarados_? Capitan Moreno sets himself up, not only as our judge, but the protector of our accursed invaders! And we must submit to his sublime dictation--we the citizens of Puebla!" "No--no, we won't stand it. _Muera el Americano_! The Yankee must be delivered up!" "You must take him, then," coolly responded Moreno, "at the point of my sword." "And at the muzzle of my pistol," I added, springing to the side of my generous host--determined to share with him the defence of his doorway.