"How does that concern you, Colonel; am I not free?"
"You are."
"That must be sufficient for you, and prove to you that I am not mistaken."
The Colonel led the American to his quarters, and asked him to walk in for a moment, while a horse was being got ready.
"Master Davis," he said to him, "be good enough to select from those weapons, whose excellence I guarantee, such as best suit you."
"Why so?" he remarked.
"Confound it! you are going to travel by night; you do not know whom you may meet. I fancy that under such circumstances it is prudent to take certain precautions."
The two men exchanged a glance; they understood each other.
"That is true," the American said, carelessly; "now that I come to think of it, the roads are not safe. As you permit me, I will take these pistols, this rifle, machete, and knife."
"As you please, but pray take some ammunition as well; without that your firearms would be of no service."