"What do you mean?" "Yes, a child with whom I was so foolish as to fall in love, and who persuaded me to enlist." "Oh, hang it!" "Yes, and I had scarce put on my uniform, when she told me she was mistaken about me: that, thus dressed, I was much uglier than she could have supposed; in short, she left me in the lurch to run after an arriero." The American could not refrain from laughing at this singular story. "It is sad, is it not?" the soldier continued. "Very sad," John Davis answered, trying in vain to regain his gravity. "What would you have?" the soldier added gloomily; "the world is only one huge deception. But," he added with a sudden change of his tone, "I fancy our dinner is ready--I smell something which warns me that it is time to take off the pot." As John Davis had naturally no objection to offer to this resolution of the soldier, the latter at once carried it into effect; the pot was taken off the fire and placed before the two guests, who began such a vigorous attack, that it was soon empty, in spite of its decent capacity. This excellent meal was washed down with a few mouthfuls of Catalonian refino, with which the soldier appeared amply provided. All was terminated with the indispensable cigarette, that obligato complement of every Hispano-American meal, and the two men, revived by the good food with which they had lined their stomachs, were soon in an excellent condition to open their hearts to each other. "You seem to me a man of caution, Caballero," the American remarked, as he puffed out an immense mouthful of smoke, part of which came from his mouth, and part from his nostrils. "It is a reminiscence of my old hunter's trade. Soldiers generally are not nearly so careful as I am." "The more I observe you," John Davis went on, "the more extraordinary does it appear to me that you should have consented to take up a profession so badly paid as that of a soldier." "What would you have? It is fatality, and then the impossibility of sending the uniform to the deuce. However, I hope to be made a _Cabo_ before the year's out." "That is a fine position, as I have heard; the pay must be good." "It would not be bad, if we received it." "What do you mean?" "It seems that the government is not rich." "Then, you give it credit?" "We are obliged to do so." "Hang it! but forgive me for asking you all these questions, which must appear to you indiscreet." "Not at all; we are talking as friends." "How do you live?" "Well, we have casualties." "What may they be?" "Do you not know?" "Indeed, I do not." "I will explain." "You will cause me pleasure." "Sometimes our Captain or General entrusts us with a mission." "Very good." "This mission is paid for separately; the more dangerous it is, the larger the amount." "Still on credit?" "No, hang it; in advance." "That is better. And have you many of these missions?" "Frequently, especially during a pronunciamento."