That served as an enigma for me, and often I pondered upon its possibilities, without being able to decide just what she meant to imply.
But Robbins, like a sensible fellow, had no idea of letting us stay there a second more than was absolutely necessary for me to get my wind.
“Come, let’s dust it,” he said; “the beggars are bearing down on us yonder.”
What he said was only actual truth, for a crowd was coming down the calle, uttering all sorts of cries, and ready to give us more trouble than we were prepared to face.
So we ran.
CHAPTER X.
THE SAME FOOL.
I take it that even the bravest of soldiers do not consider that a masterly retreat reflects upon their valor, especially when it can only be avoided by serious consequences.
As for Robbins and myself, we hadn’t the least scruple about levanting, and our only anxiety lay in the fear that we might not be able to get away speedily enough, for those fellows were swooping down with considerable promptness, and we had those in our charge who could not be expected to run as rapidly as ourselves.
I must confess I was pleasantly surprised to see that Carmencita could gallop along like a young fawn, while Hildegarde also proved herself able to accomplish something in that line.