"Come, general," he said, "courage! What the devil! luck often changes; I know something of that! _Caray!_ never despair; nobody can tell what tomorrow will bring about. Give me your parole not to endeavour to escape, and I will immediately restore you the freedom of your limbs." "I cannot give you that parole," the general replied with firmness; "I should take a false oath if I did. On the contrary, I swear to endeavour to fly by all possible means." "Bravo! well answered!" said the pirate, laughing; "in your place, I should have replied just the same; only, at the present moment, I believe, with the best will in the world, it would be impossible for you to go a step. In spite, therefore, of all you have said to me, I will restore both you and your servant to liberty, and you may make what use you like of it, but it is freedom of your limbs, please to recollect, that is all." With a stroke of his machete he cut the cords which bound the arms of the general, and then performed the same service for the Negro, Jupiter. The latter, as soon as he was free in his movements, began jumping and laughing, exhibiting two rows of formidable teeth of dazzling whiteness. "Come, be prudent, blacky," said the pirate; "be quiet here, if you do not want to have a bullet through your head." "I will not go without my master," Jupiter replied, rolling his great wild-looking eyes. "That is right!" the pirate remarked with a sneer; "that is agreed upon; such devotedness does you honour, blacky." Turning next to the general, the captain bathed his wounds with cold water, and dressed them carefully; then, after placing provisions before the prisoners, to which the Negro alone did honour, the pirate retired. Towards the middle of the day, the captain called together the principal men of his band. "Caballeros," he said, "we cannot deny that we have lost the first game; the prisoners we have made are far from reimbursing our expenses; we cannot remain quiet under the effects of a check, which dishonours us, and renders us ridiculous. I am going to play a second game; this time if I do not win I shall be unlucky indeed. During my absence, watch well over the prisoners. Pay attention to the last orders I give you: if tomorrow, at midnight, I have not returned, safe and sound among you, at a quarter past midnight, I say, you will shoot the two prisoners without remission; you perfectly understand what I say, do you not?--without remission." "Be at your ease, captain," Frank replied, in the name of his companions; "you may go as soon as you please; your orders shall be executed." "I know they will; but be sure not to shoot them a minute too soon, or a minute too late." "Exactly at the time named." "That is understood. Adieu, then; do not be too impatient for my return." Upon this the captain left the grotto, to throw himself in the way of Loyal Heart. We have seen what the bandit wanted with the trapper. CHAPTER XII. A RUSE DE GUERRE.