"That promises well. There's another advantage. You speak Spanish and so do I."
"It's lucky that we do."
"And now," said Obed White to the two Mexicans, "we will leave you to the hospitality of Cos and Santa Anna, which my young friend and I have enjoyed so long. We feel that it is time for you to share in it. We're going to lock you in this cell, where you can hear the sea rolling over your head, but you will not stay here forever. It's a long lane that does not come somewhere to a happy ending, and your comrades will find you by to-morrow. Farewell."
He went into the hall and they locked the door. They listened beside it a little while but no sound came from within.
"They dare not cry out," said Obed. "They're afraid we'll come back. Now for the second step in our escape. It's pretty dark here. Those fellows must have known the way mighty well to have come down as they did without a lantern."
"There are other prisoners in these cells," said Ned. "Shouldn't we release them? You can probably open any of the doors with your key."
White shook his head.
"I'm sure that we're the only Texans or Americans in San Juan de Ulua, and we couldn't afford to be wasting time on Mexicans whether revolutionaries or criminals. There would merely be a tumult with every one of us sure to be recaptured."
The two now advanced down the passage, which was low and narrow, walled in with massive stone. It was so dark here that they held each other's hands and felt the way before every footstep.
"I think we're going in the right direction," whispered White, "As I remember it this is the way I came in."