"No—what in thunder do you mean?"
"No, Señor," there was not a trace of impertinence in her face.
The officer looked at her in despair.
"Do you, or don't you understand what I am saying?" he demanded.
"No, Señor," Lucia reiterated.
"Where is the soldier who found this girl?" the Captain shouted to an orderly.
Lucia did not understand what he said, but she knew that her captor was well out of sight with his pick and shovel by now, and in all probability would not return and give her away, and she was beginning to enjoy the part of a "stupid."
Just as the Captain turned to continue his questioning, Garibaldi, who had been grazing about unmolested at a little distance from the shed, saw Lucia and came bounding over to her. In her delight at finding her young mistress she very nearly succeeded in butting over the officer.
Lucia had difficulty in repressing a smile, but she put her arms around the goat's neck and patted her.
"Does that animal belong to you?" The Captain demanded, puffing a little in the effort to retain his balance.