"No, I cannot, but if I can commence here with 200, then others will come forward from all the country."
"Well, if Don Gregorio will let you pick fifty from among his slaves I will give you twenty from mine; I will run the risk of some of them being killed."
"Conforme," said Don Gregorio; "the thing is to commence at once; where do you intend to fix your headquarters?"
"If you will permit me, grandpapa, I should like to establish myself at your large chacra close to the Guardia, the Chacra de Los Sauces. I shall encamp my men on the open ground, and there is a rancho I marked there which will do for me. The commandant of the Guardia has promised me a sergeant and three corporals to assist me in drilling them."
"Agreed," replied Don Gregorio. "Then, gentlemen, if you will promise nothing definite, you will let us hope that when the danger becomes more pressing you will let my grandson seek more recruits among your slaves."
"I will let you have twenty as soon as the wheat is cut," said one.
"Come, we have not done so badly," said Don Gregorio to his grandson; "the thing is to make a beginning."
Marcelino was disappointed to find his idea meet with so cold a reception, nevertheless he returned to the verandah in very good spirits, and met with more sympathy in his scheme from his English friend than he had done from his own countrymen. Don Fausto had promised to call all his slaves together the following morning for inspection by Marcelino, and ere the sun was up the latter was awakened by someone shaking him by the shoulder. Opening his eyes drowsily, he saw his friend Gordon standing by his bed.
"Get up, my friend," said the latter; "if you would be a soldier you must learn to parade your men every morning at sunrise."
Laughing at his eagerness, Marcelino sprang from his bed.