“You perceive, mio capita I was not your captive after all? Ha! ha! ha!”
“Lady, you are too general not to pardon the rudeness to which you have been subjected?”
“Freely, capitan—freely.”
“I shudder at thought of the risk you have run. Why did you act with such imprudence? Your sudden flight at sight of our picket caused suspicion, and of course it was our duty to follow and capture you. With the safeguard, you had no cause for flight.”
“Ha! it was that very safe-guard that caused me to fly.”
“The safe-guard, señorita? Pray, explain!”
“Can I trust your prudence, capitan?”
“I promise—”
“Know, then, that I was not certain you were Americanos; for aught I could see, you might have been a guerilla of my countrymen. How would it be if this paper, and sundry others I carry, were to fall into the hands of Caiales? You perceive, capitan, we fear our friends more than our enemies.”
I now fully comprehended the motive of her flight.