“‘No, Señor Capitan,’ he answered, saluting.
“‘The lazy rascals!’ said I, tersely. ‘I gave orders that they were to go on duty immediately as a reward for abusing my good nature and getting drunk. Are they in the cuartel with you?’
“‘No, Señor Capitan; they are in the cuartel yonder at the angle of the wall.’
“‘Bueno! I will soon break up their sweet dreams, the drunken vagabonds. Who is your sergeant?’ He told me the man’s name.
“‘And when are you to be relieved?’
“‘At midnight,’ said he.
“‘Very well. You may return to your quarters, and if your sergeant is awake tell him that I have put one of my men in your place. Go!’
“‘Si, Señor.’ He saluted and slouched away.
“I proceeded, and in a few minutes had relieved two more of the regular garrison and bid one of the new men sleep at his post.
“It was then ten o’clock; there were two hours ahead of me. I made my way to the sea-wall and, reaching below the rampart with one arm, struck a match, extinguished it, struck another and extinguished that. A moment later I heard the soft grinding of oars and the boat glided out of the darkness. Rosenthal’s great frame hove itself up over the rampart, then dropped into the shadow under the wall, and I heard his discordant laugh stifled to a hissing gurgle. He carried a pick-axe.