This was altogether very charming—it warmed my heart toward the worthy alcalde.
And I saw that his soldiers would never hesitate about carrying out his orders, if one might judge from the black looks they cast on me.
Several bore bandages—indeed, the whole squad looked as though it had seen signal service of late, and my conscience pricked me as I remembered how roughly we had used the boys on that night of nights.
I drew out what loose gold I had—well did I know it would be taken from me anyhow, and diplomacy whispered that it might be made to serve a good purpose if I were shrewd; perhaps the hour might come when it would be to my advantage to have these fellows friendly rather than enemies, for the Spanish-American is a good hater.
My command of the Spanish language, as I have said before, had never been wonderful, but it was growing all the time, and if I stayed among these people another fortnight, I might be a fair linguist, since necessity compels one to learn.
So I addressed the grim warriors and told them how glad I was to make their acquaintance—that I always had a sneaking belief the finest soldiers in the world were to be found in Bolivar, and also that I desired to present their captain with certain golden onzas wherewith he was, upon the earliest occasion, to treat them to the very best to be found in old Bolivar; moreover, I solemnly promised that when I reached New York again I would hasten to send them a huge hogshead of champagne wherein to drink my health.
It was a master stroke.
Every man grinned as he heard the sweet jingle of golden coins passing from my hand to that itching palm of the captain, and I have no doubt eager eyes counted each quarter eagle or sovereign as it came in view, intending that the officer should give a fair accounting.
They no longer scowled—a balm had been applied to their wounds, for great is the power of money wherever civilization extends.
The alcalde hardly knew how to take me—I could see I had gained his respect, and as out of the corner of my eye I noted his interest, it was plain to me how he might be managed.