Again the Captain puffed his cigarette. He looked dreamily down the river where the sailing craft had passed from sight.
“You would not have harmed General Yozarro or anyone in the boat.”
“You are insulting, Captain; I could not have missed them.”
“The port gun had no charge in it!”
“Good heavens! is that the truth?” demanded the astounded American.
“You have only to examine the piece for yourself to learn that it is.”
“Did General Yozarro know it?”
The Captain puffed several times so hard that the point of fire touched his mustache, then he impatiently flung the bit out of the window. Superbly self-possessed as he was, he could not conceal his anger.
“How could he help knowing it, when by his own orders the charge was withdrawn before we left Atlamalco? What his whim was I didn’t ask and do not care.”
“Knowing that, why did he hesitate?”