“Ah, you see your arguments are not convincing,” he cried triumphantly. “Must I allow those who are not my enemies to capture my property, then spy on my military movements? Shall I be powerless to lay by the heels such fellows, and shoot them as they richly deserve?”
Then a thought seemed to strike him; he led Phil away out of ear-shot of his companions.
“I shall grant a reprieve under one condition.”
“And that is?” exclaimed the boy, his hopes rising.
“That you cause my guns to be delivered inside my lines,” he answered.
The lad’s hopes vanished. That he could not do. He had rather die first. He shook his head determinedly.
“I can’t do that,” he replied, “even if I would.”
The general, misinterpreting the meaning implied in the boy’s words, hastily explained:
“The arms are this minute in La Boca, but the government and your ship are so vigilant that I dare not risk attempting to bring them here by water, and by land is quite out of the question. If I release you, you could find a safe way to evade detection under the protection of your flag.”
The price was tempting to the despairing American youth: three lives for a cargo of arms, but the vileness of the act which he must commit to obtain this reward was repulsively horrible. Phil tried hard to control his indignation. He felt that to show this man how much he despised him and his clemency would only hasten their end.