A piercing eye still showed the capability of flashing fire, when occasion required it. Just then it was filled with a sombre light; and his whole demeanour betokened a man who suffered from some overwhelming sorrow. Under its influence his habitual serenity had forsaken him; and, without pausing inside the door, he walked hurriedly up to the general, and commenced to unburden himself. Between the two of us there was no possibility of mistaking which was the commander-in-chief--so that the stranger had addressed himself to the proper personage. As his talk was Cherokee to the general--perhaps not so well understood--he was motioned to make his communication to me. I had already gathered from his introductory remarks, that he had been travelling in a stage-coach, _en route_ for the capital on a special errand to the general himself; and that a great misfortune had befallen him on the road. I had by this time noticed a slight _delabrement_ in his dress--to say nothing of some scratches on his hands and face--that went towards confirming his hurried statement. "A misfortune?" I asked, in my capacity of interpreter. "Of what nature, senor?" "_O cavallero; una cosa horrible; un robo! Por los bandoleros_!" "A horrible business--a robbery by brigands!" I said, translating literally to the general. "How very singular!" remarked the commander-in-chief. "Quite a coincidence! I think, captain, I shall have to grant your request." "Of what have they robbed you, senor?" I inquired, in the continuation of my new _role_. "Not your watch--else they would scarce have left you those splendid appendages?" I spoke of a massive chain and bunch of gold seals, with turquoise, topaz, and other sparkling stones, that hung conspicuously from his waistcoat. "_Por Dios_, no! They did not take that!" "Your purse, perhaps?" "No, senor; they did not touch it either. They would have been welcome to it, and the watch as well. Ah! they might have had everything else but what they did take." "What was it?" "_Mias ninas! mias ninas_!" "Ninyas!" interrupted the general, without waiting for the translation, "that means young girls, don't it, captain?" "In its general signification it does. As he has used it, it means his own daughters." "What! Have the brigands robbed him of them?" "That's what he has just stated." "Poor old gentleman--for he's evidently a gentleman! It's a hard case, no doubt, to have his daughters carried off by brigands--worse than if Indians had got them. Go on, and question him. Let him give the whole story; and then ask him what he wants me to do. I'll wait till you've finished. You can translate it all in a lump." As the general said this he turned away, and speaking to his aide-de-camp, dispatched the latter on some errand that carried him out of the room.