Mr. Ryder was about to press his question again, however, when Lyman appeared, leading a very white and very nervous-looking individual whom Jack recognized as Nedham.
“Here’s your assistant, Mr. Ryder; you said you wanted to see him,” said Lyman.
But before the engineer could speak Nedham caught sight of the man on the ground. He shrank back in terror and gasped.
“Oh, it’s José Cerro!”
Mr. Ryder looked searchingly at his trembling assistant, for he could not understand what made the man so frightened at seeing the wounded rebel leader. He did not have long to speculate on the reason for such strange actions, for Captain Alvarez came to speak to him.
“You could no make José speak?” queried the officer.
“No, he refused to answer my questions.”
“Ah-ha, did I not tell you zay all are so like that.” Then turning to José Cerro, he said in Spanish, “You are to die. Can you stand up to face the firing squad or must we prop you against the wall?”
“I shall die standing,” said the rebel proudly, “and you shall not blindfold me either.”