He gave a wordless command and the soldiers prepared a little woodland feast which the young Manuels never forgot. It was army fare, rather stale and hard, but it was as “manna in the wilderness” to the famished children. Watching them, the cavalrymen prolonged their own meal and, in another sense, also shortened it; for the twins ate as if the supply were inexhaustible and, as the Sergeant observed:
“No tellin’ where you’ll be when you’re hungry next time!”
“Time’s up!” called the Captain, and sprang to his feet.
CHAPTER XII
THE END OF A NOBLE LIFE
Carlos and Carlota also rose. They did not know what these new friends, who had met and fed them, would do, but they felt that they were not yet to part company. The Captain settled it:
“Youngsters, I’m on the ‘war path,’ and I’ve tarried too long already. Since to leave you alone would be worse for you, you’ll have to take the chance of trouble and go with us.”
He was vexed and stern. He hated the charge of two children upon his hazardous chase after the troublesome Apaches, whom he was determined to punish if he could meet them.
“If it comes to a fight between the redskins and us, ‘the boys around the monkey’s cage had better get away,’” remarked a subaltern to his neighbor.
The Captain overheard and grimly smiled.
“Master Facetious may desire to ‘get out of the way’ himself.” Then to the children: “Do you both ride one horse?”