Roderic was a man whose very face was a passport among his fellows.
What he said usually carried weight.
Of old he had exerted great influence over the don, who had almost loved him as his own at the time jealousy broke up the combination.
This feeling was once more sweeping over the general—there is a fascination about some men that is very hard to resist.
Possibly he might have again thrust out his hand despite Roblado and his hatred for Yankees in general.
Other voices were heard outside—Roblado was endeavoring to explain to the new arrivals who had just appeared upon the scene.
Perhaps, not having received any answer to his frenzied calls to the general, he jumped to the conclusion that the boot was on the other leg, and the veteran had received his quietus at the hands of the miserable American "pig."
In numbers there is courage and strength.
Even Roblado could be valorous when backed up by half a dozen comrades.
The cramp in his abdomen, which had necessarily prevented him from rushing in and annihilating the Yankee, now left him as if by magic, and when the group of conspirators crushed through the doorway Roblado led the van.