The best he could do was to make some show of holding the enemy, perhaps incarcerating him in the dungeon so lately Leon's abode.
Unfortunately it happened that the rules and regulations of the Spanish army do not allow a captain of the guard to make his rounds alone and unattended.
A non commissioned officer, perhaps a sergeant, stood at his side holding the lantern and presenting a most astonished appearance at witnessing so remarkable a scene.
Roderic, without losing time, made a dive at the two soldiers, having whipped out his revolver.
"Surrender!" he exclaimed, not forgetting to put the emphatic word in Spanish as became the character he represented.
To his disgust the fellow who held the lantern was so overwhelmed by his alarm that his fingers lost their grip, consequently the article of illumination fell from his grasp and as Roderic's little affair had taken a notion to go out, owing to the abrupt movement he made, they found themselves enveloped in darkness that was not excelled by that of Egypt when the plague came.
It was very very unfortunate.
Just when the Yankee had begun to feel confident he could grasp the game, and manipulate it to his liking, it was snatched out of his hands.
He knew the two men were beating a hasty retreat, for they made plenty of noise as they stumbled along the dark passage.