"I should dearly like to make the attempt," Jack was saying, "but your arguments are, I am afraid, conclusive. We can't afford to lose any of our men unless we can be sure of success, and after their recent warnings I don't think we shall catch the French napping. We must give up the idea, I suppose, but you will see that our men keep a keen watch on the epaulement, Señor— Well, what is it, Pepito?"
Pepito came forward carelessly.
"I found these, Señor," he said, handing two papers to Jack, who took them carelessly. Without unfolding them, he asked:
"Where did you get these?"
"In the tall house, Señor."
"Which tall house?"
"Where the Señor went just now."
"Where the man was murdered?"
"Sí, Señor. The big Antonio took him away. I was there. In a minute, two men came in. 'Now we get a bed,' they say. They pull the dirty quilt off the bed. One man carries it; the other pulls off the mattress. There, on the boards, I see two papers. I snatch them, and say: 'I take these to the Señor Capitan'. The man laughs; and here they are, Señor."
Jack unfolded the papers and glanced at them curiously. Suddenly he started, and keenly scrutinized one of them.