Part 23 (1/2)
”Ha, boy, are you alone?” demanded the man, who was none other than Captain Arguez.
”I am,” answered Ralph.
”And what brought you here?”
”I was out looking for a lost mustang, and missed my way.”
”Ha, that is what the other boy told me!” muttered Captain Arguez, half savagely.
”The other boy? Then you have seen my brother?”
”Yes.”
”Where is he now?”
”I cannot tell you. He ran away, taking one of my soldier's mustangs.”
”But I don't understand,” stammered Ralph. ”Are you a Mexican army officer?”
”I am.”
”And Dan was with you?”
”I think he fell in with us by accident, and he got away just as we were having a brush with some of your accursed Americans.” The Mexican captain looked around suspiciously. ”You are quite sure you are alone?”
”Yes, senor.”
”You have two ponies.”
”One belongs to my brother. He got on the white mustang,--the one that ran away,--and that is the last I saw of him. You have no idea where he is now?”
”Probably with the Texans who attacked my party.”
”And where are they?”
Captain Arguez's brow grew dark. ”You are asking too many questions for a mere boy,” he growled. ”I do not know where they are, nor do I care, so long as they do not bother me any more,” and in this he spoke the exact truth. He cared nothing for his men, and wished only to get back to San Antonio in safety.
The Mexican had had nothing to eat throughout the day, and was glad enough to avail himself of what little was left in the hamper. Then he put his mustang beside the others, and made himself as comfortable as possible near Ralph.
”Do you know the way to Bexar?” he demanded.
Ralph shook his head. ”I don't know the way anywhere; I am totally lost.”
”From whence do you come?”
”From the Guadalupe River, at least thirty or forty miles from here.”
”Then I must be almost as far from Bexar?”
”Yes; perhaps farther.”