"Now Mr. Monte, I shall have to ask you to extend your hands behind you."
"Surely your excellency will not bind me?"
"My excellency sure will. Stick 'em out and be quick about it."
"I protest. General Serano shall hear of this outrage."
"I am quite confident of that, but I am not ready to lose your company yet, Monte."
O'Connor turned the man around much as he might have done a child, and bound his hands behind him. Then he led him to a chair into which he thrust him and lashed his hands tightly to the back, Villamonte jabbering vehemently in Spanish the while.
"Now, Mr. Wyman," said O'Connor, when he finished, "this gentleman's providential preoccupation of mind will relieve you from the necessity of visiting General Serano. I think he will be very glad to carry out any instructions I may give him." As O'Connor spoke, he carelessly removed a pistol from his belt, and as he examined it he held the muzzle so that it covered the trembling Villamonte, who cowered back in the chair.
"Won't you, Mr. Monte?"
"Whatever his excellency wishes shall be my pleasure," stammered the interpreter.
"Good; now we understand each other, Monte."