Josh's heart was on fire--his blood boiling. It was with difficulty he restrained himself from springing out upon the soldier and clutching him by the throat. He succeeded, however, in keeping his place, if not his temper; for it would have been sheer madness to show himself there and then. What came after quite tranquillised him. "Well, _cabo_" returned he of the rank and file, seemingly without fear of speaking plain to the non-commissioned officer, "I should be sorry to dash your hopes; but as a friend I can't help saying I don't think you have much chance in that quarter. She's a step higher, that same Pepita; holds her head far above any of us common soldiers--" "Common soldiers! I'm a corporal; you forget that, _hombre_. But why do you think my chances are so poor?" "Because I've heard say there's a man about the establishment to whom she's already given what heart she may have had to give--that they're engaged. The fellow's groom or _cochero_, or something of the sort." Jose breathed easier now, noways provoked at having been spoken of as a "fellow." "Bah!" contemptuously exclaimed the corporal. "What care I for that horse-cleaner and carriage-washer for a rival! I've cut out scores of such before now, and will do the same with him. Lie down there, you devil's imp!" he added, turning savagely upon the dwarf, and venting his spleen by giving the creature a kick. "Down, or I'll break every bone in your body." "Mercy, master!" expostulated the hunchback. "Don't be so cruel to a fellow-creature." "Fellow-creature! That's good, ha, ha, ha!" And the brute broke out into a hoarse laugh, till the rocks echoed his fiendish cachinnation. "Well, your worship," rejoined he thus inhumanly mocked, with an air of assumed meekness; "whatever I am, it pains me to think I should be the cause of keeping you here. But why should you stay, may I ask? You don't suppose I'm going to run away? If I were with you as a prisoner-- but I am not. I sought an interview with your Colonel of my own free will. Surely you saw that!" "True enough, he did," interposed the soldier. "And what if he did?" growled the corporal. "Only, Senor, to show that I have no intention to part company with you, nor wish neither. _Por Dios_! don't let me hinder you from having that chat with the _muchachita_. It's but a step back to the _pueblo_, and like as not she'll be on the lookout for you, spite of what your comrade says. Maybe he has an eye to the pretty dear himself, and that's why he wishes to discourage you." As this rigmarole was delivered in the most comical manner, it put the soldiers in a better humour, both breaking out into laughter. Of course the corporal had no thought of availing himself of the permission so accorded. Their orders were strict to stay in that spot, and stay they must. The question was, how were they to spend the time. A smoke to begin with; and they drew out their cigarritos, with flint, steel, and tinder.