"Joaquin Saurez, Señor, at your service."
"How do you come among these mutineers, you do not seem to be a soldier?"
"Señor, I had urgent necessity for money, and the Señor Major Asneiros gave me two doubloons to enlist in the regiment of Cordova."
"Well, Joaquin, you are mixed up in a bad business, but will you swear to me that you are not a deserter from some regiment in Buenos Aires?"
"By the Holy Virgin Maria and by all the saints I swear it to you, Señor. I never was a soldier, I do not know how to handle a musket. Señor, I will tell you how it was I came to enlist."
"I have no time to listen, but if you will answer me my questions, and I find your information correct, I will give you your liberty and a good horse, so that you may go where you like; if you deceive me, with your life you will pay for it. Now listen: was Major Asneiros your own leader?"
"He was the only one who gave any orders?"
"Were all here to-day who left Buenos Aires with you?"
"No, Señor. There was a gentleman with two servants who rode with us the first day, but we stopped that night at an estancia where there was a galera waiting for him."
"And he came with you in this galera yesterday as far as Pico's estancia?"