Delineation of mood by suggestion.
110. The soldier placed the gourd in his hands, and the bandit drank the water given him by a man with whom he had just exchanged gunshots. He then asked that they would tie his hands across his breast instead of having them behind his back.
111. “I prefer,” he said, “to lie down at my ease.”
Fourth Contributory Incident.
112. When they had adjusted them to his satisfaction, the adjutant gave the signal to start, said adieu to Mateo—who answered never a word—and went down at a quick pace toward the plain.
Suspense.
113. Some ten minutes passed before Mateo opened his mouth. The child looked with an uneasy eye first at his mother, then at his father, who, leaning on his gun, was gazing at him with a gaze of concentrated wrath.
Preparation for Climax. Sixth and Final Plot Incident.
114. “You begin well,” said Mateo at last, in a voice calm but terrifying to those who knew the man.
115. “Father!” exclaimed the child with tears in his eyes, drawing near as if to fall upon his knees.