"I heard you, and I demand to know the meaning of this insolence."
"Demand! A strange word from a helpless man, senor. Are you aware that you are in my power, senor. Come, come, don't drive me to extremities. I should be sorry to have to injure a gallant young officer like yourself, but I tell you plainly, captain, that if you hesitate, my duty will compel me to kill you!"
There was something in the tone with which these words were spoken, more than in the words themselves, which impressed the officer.
He realized now that he had not, as he had supposed at first, a drunkard to deal with. But he was still completely at a loss to know what was meant.
However, he reasoned that a few minutes' chat in the hut, would certainly lead to a satisfactory explanation.
"The less time lost the better," said the Spanish captain.
So he dismounted, and Young Glory took possession of his pistol and also his horse. The latter he instantly hitched up to a hook driven in the wall of the hut.
"Now, fellow," said the captain, when the two men found themselves in the hut, "what does this foolery mean?"
"Take off your clothes!"
The officer colored with passion.