"It was tired, lame, who knows?—they left it behind."
"Now, mark me, if you speak one lie, you shall be shot to death within five minutes. If you speak truth, the Republic will reward you. Where is that lady?"
"Who knows?" was the evasive answer; but as he uttered it his eyes wandered to his master's face, as if to consult his eyes before replying further. He met their steadfast gaze, and continued, firmly: "She went with the rest."
A dragoon entered at this moment, bearing a lady's side-saddle and bridle, with girths and hangings all complete, and cast them down at the general's feet; and then said, as he saluted:
"We have found a dragoon horse dead—shot within a few hours, general—in the corral, with all his accoutrements upon him."
The general's cold, hard eye turned silently and sternly on the miserable boy.
"Speak," he said, "or die. Take your choice. Where is the lady?"
"Quien Sabe?"
"Away with him."
Two stout dragoons seized him, and despite his cries, his struggles and entreaties, dragged him away as if he had been a mere infant.