"Yes." "Why, that is impossible." "Why so?" "Oh, you must be mad, my friend!" "Remember that the fort has been in my hands for the past twelve hours," the Jaguar coldly interrupted him. "I surprised it last night." "Ah!" the Colonel exclaimed, in stupor. "Did I not tell you that I had serious news to impart to you?" the young man continued; "Would you like, now, to learn the second item?" "The second!" the Colonel repeated, utterly astounded; "And what can the second item be? After what I have just heard, I can expect anything." "The second item is this: the _Libertad_ corvette has been boarded by the privateer brig, with which it and chored at sunset beneath the guns of the fort." At this unexpected revelation the Colonel staggered like a drunken man; he turned pale as a corpse, and his limbs were agitated by a convulsive movement. "Woe, woe!" he exclaimed in a choking voice. The Jaguar felt moved with pity at the sight of this true and poignant grief. "Alas! my friend," he said gently, "it is the fortune of war." "Oh, Galveston, Galveston!" the Colonel said in despair, "that city which the General has sworn never to surrender!" After a moment's silence, the Colonel mounted his horse. "Let me go," he said; "I must immediately impart these frightful news to the Governor." "Go, my friend," the Jaguar answered affectionately; "but, remember, that you will find me at the Fort of the Point." "We are accursed!" the Colonel cried wildly, and burying his spurs in the sides of his horse, which snorted with pain, he started at full gallop. "Poor friend!" the Jaguar muttered sadly, as he looked after him, "The news has quite upset him." After this reflection, the young man mounted and went back to the fort, which he reached about half an hour later. CHAPTER XXIV. THE LANDING. Immediately on reaching his anchorage, Captain Johnson, after conversing for a moment privately with El Alferez, gave orders that Commandant Rodriguez and his officers should be brought into his presence. The Commandant, despite the politeness with which he had been treated, and the kindness the privateer's men had shown him, could not forgive them the way in which they had seized his vessel; he was sad, and had hitherto only answered the questions asked him by disdainful silence, or insulting monosyllables. When the officers of the corvette were assembled in the cabin, Captain Johnson, turning politely to the Mexicans, said: "Gentlemen, I am really most sorry for what has occurred. I should be glad to set you at liberty immediately, but your Commandant's formal refusal to pledge himself not to serve against us for a year and a day, obliges me, to my great regret, to keep you prisoners, at least temporarily. However, gentlemen, be assured that you will be treated as Caballeros, and everything done to alleviate the sorrow this temporary captivity must occasion you." The officers, and even the Commandant, bowed their thanks, and the Captain continued: