Cristobal's heart beat fast when he saw who was pacing up and down just outside the bars. Pressing up to the front of the cell, he leaned for some time against the bars without speaking, and then, as the young soldier passed, he asked, softly,
"Cataluna?"
"No," said the guard; "Asturias."
"So much the better!" Cristobal said to himself; "it is only proper that a Catalan should buy an Asturian. He is mine, for I shall buy him with gold."
For some minutes more he stood leaning against the bars, without saying another word, biding his time. When a favorable moment came, he took one of the golden eagles between his thumb and forefinger, and held it in front of his breast, where no one in the cell could see it, and there was no one outside but the young guard.
Up and down paced the soldier, his eyes apparently straight in front of him. But somehow with each walk past he was a little closer to the bars. Seeing this encouraging sign, Cristobal took out another eagle, and held up two. By that time the young guard was so close that Cristobal might have touched him as he passed. After several more turns the soldier raised his eyebrows questioningly as he passed.
There were no other prisoners close up against the bars, but some were near enough to make great caution necessary. Only a single short sentence could be spoken at each passing of the sentinel.
"The first means through the portal," Cristobal whispered, as the soldier went up.
There was not a sign to show that he had been heard or understood.
"The second means a boat on the beach," Cristobal whispered, as the soldier went down.