"The mission with which I wish to charge you is not difficult. I have a despatch to send to General Don Eusebio Moratín; if you could undertake this, I confess you would greatly serve me."
"And why should we refuse to charge ourselves with it, your Excellency?"
"I do not know; you know your own affairs better than I do, and you know if it is possible."
The partisan's proposition was all the more agreeable to the gauchos, as they wanted a pretext to introduce themselves to the general. This despatch would naturally make their path smoother; moreover, recommended by Zeno Cabral, they would awaken no suspicion, and were sure of being well received.
"Well," resumed Zeno Cabral, after a pause, "what do you say?"
"We will take the despatch, your Excellency."
"Bear in mind that it must be given to General Moratín himself."
"We will give it into his own hands."
"Hum! That is, perhaps, too much to exact," murmured the partisan to himself; "I am going to write the despatch by the light of the fire; and you will permit me to offer you ten ounces."
"We accept it with gratitude, your Excellency," joyously answered the gauchos.