Without a word the corporal obeyed and told off six men as a firing squad. The smuggler’s hands were tied behind him and he was placed with his back to the rock, while the rurales with carbines leveled stood ready to fire.
“Look, you,” said the captain as he took his position a little to one side. “At the word ten the men will fire and I shall not count very slowly either. Ready. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight——”
“There are forty-five besides the captain and Santiago,” broke forth the smuggler.
“Nine, ten, fire,” finished the captain, and at the word the carbines cracked and the smuggler pitched forward and lay motionless!
An exclamation of horror burst from both the American boys.
“Captain!” cried Donald. “It’s murder.”
“How could you after he had spoken!” exclaimed Adrian.
The captain shrugged his shoulders and lighted a cigarette.
“It had to be done sooner or later. It might as well be now as later.”
“But you broke your word!”