Riego plunged into the thick of the dust cloud toward the cry, and dropped by Pascual's side. How could he have known that his brother would ride that night with the invaders!
But Pascual was striving to speak. Riego leaned over him and caught the whisper:
"Lorente shot me down to get my horse and escape!"
And now the gringos were circling round the wounded one—they would beat out his brains with their guns! But—but—why, they were lifting him up, and tenderly! The Americans were lifting up his wounded brother!
*****
Many and bewildering were the things which happened to Riego in the next few hours. First, he and the all-but-dead Pascual were carried by the soldiers to the American camp. Then his brother was taken away from him and borne into a closed tent.
The soldiers gathered around Riego and patted him on the shoulder. They gave him many things—things to eat and coins and pocket-knives and tobacco-tags, all the while challenging him to smile—he whose captured brother was yonder!
Later the big captain sent for him and took him by the hand.
"Riego Yañez," he said, "I am proud to shake hands with an American hero!"
At length a tall soldier came to Riego and led him to the closed tent. But the tall soldier did not enter; he merely pushed the boy inside the tent and dropped the khaki flap.