is to say, as well as you possibly can, and to that I have no objection. Unfortunately, instead of fighting side by side, we are in opposite camps; fatality decrees it so; perhaps, some day these unhappy dissensions will cease, and then, who knows whether we may not be friends?"
"We are so already, Caballero," the Captain said, warmly, as he held out his hand to the Jaguar.
The latter pressed it vigorously.
"Let us each follow the road traced for us," he said; "but if we defend a different cause, let us maintain, when the contest is raging, that esteem and friendship which two loyal enemies ought to feel, who have measured their swords and found them of equal length."
"Agreed," said the Captain.
"One word more," the Jaguar continued. "I must respond to your frankness by equal frankness."
"Speak."
"I presume that the question I asked surprised you?"
"I confess it."
"Well, I will tell you why I asked it."
"What good will that do?"
"I must; between us two henceforth there must be nothing hidden. In spite of the hatred I ought to feel for you, I feel myself attracted to you by a secret sympathy, which I cannot explain, but which urges me to reveal to you a secret on which the happiness of my life depends."
"I do not understand you, Caballero; the language seems strange to me. Explain yourself, in Heaven's name."
A feverish flush suddenly covered the Jaguar's face.
"Listen, Captain, if you only know me today for the first time, your name has been ringing in my ears for many months past."
The officer fixed an inquiring glance on the young man.
"Yes, yes," the latter continued, with increasing animation, "she ever has your name on her lips – she only speaks of you. Only a few days back – but why recall that? Suffice it for you to know that I love her to distraction."
"Carmela?" the Captain muttered.
"Yes," the Jaguar exclaimed, "you love her too!"
"I do," the Captain replied, simply, as he looked on the ground with an air of embarrassment.
There was a lengthened silence between the two men. It was easy to discover that each of them was having an internal fight; at length the Jaguar managed to quell the storm that growled in his heart, and went on, in a firm voice —
"Thanks for your loyal answer, Captain; in loving Carmela you take advantage of your good right, just as I do; let this love, instead of separating, form a stronger link between us. Carmela is worthy of the love of an honourable man; let us each love her, and carry on an open warfare, without treachery or trickery; all the better for the man she may prefer. She alone must be judge between us; let her follow her heart, for she is too pure and good to deceive herself and make a bad choice."
"Good!" the Captain exclaimed, enthusiastically; "You are a man after my own heart, Jaguar, and whatever may happen, I shall always think with gladness that I have pressed your honest hand, and am worthy of being counted among your friends. Yes, I have a deep and sincere love for Carmela; for a smile from her rosy lips I would joyfully lay down my life; but I swear that I will follow the noble example you give me, and the struggle shall be as honourable on my side as on yours."
"Viva Cristo!" the young man said with frank and simple delight, "I was sure we should end by coming to an understanding."
"To produce that," the Captain remarked, with a smile, "we only needed the opportunity for an explanation."
"Canarios, I trust that it will not be repeated under similar conditions, for it is a perfect miracle that we are still alive."
"I am not at all anxious to repeat the experiment."
"Nor I either, I swear to you. But the sun is rapidly declining on the horizon: I need not tell you that you are free, and at liberty to go wherever you please, if it is not your intention to remain any length of time with us: I have had a horse got ready which you will permit me to offer you."
"I gladly accept it: I do not wish to have any false pride with you, and afoot in these regions, which are quite strange to me, I should feel greatly embarrassed."
"That need not trouble you, for I will give you a guide to accompany you, till you get in the right road."
"A thousand thanks."
"Where do you propose going? Of course, if my question be indiscreet, I do not expect you to answer it."
"I have nothing to hide from you; I intend joining General Rubio as quickly as possible, to whom I must report the accident that has happened to the conducta de plata, and the terrible catastrophe of which I have been the victim."
"It is the fortune of war, Captain."
"I do not reproach you; I merely say it was an unfortunate affair."
"Had it been possible to save the conducta by courage and devotion, you would have doubtless done it, for you performed your duty worthily."
"I thank you for this praise."
"It will be easy for you to reach General Rubio's camp before sunset."
"Do you think so?"
"I am sure of it, for you are only three leagues at the most from it."
"So near as that? Had I but known it," the Captain said in a tone of regret.
"Yes, but you were ignorant of the fact. But, nonsense, what good is it returning to that, you will take your revenge some day or the other."
"You are right; what is done cannot be undone, so I will be off."
"Already?"
"I must."
"That is true."
The Jaguar made a signal to a borderer standing a short distance off.
"The Captain's horse," he said.
Five minutes later, this borderer, who was no other than Ruperto, reappeared, leading two horses, one of which was a magnificent mustang, with delicate limbs, and flashing eye. The Captain reached the saddle at one leap, and Ruperto was already mounted. The two enemies, henceforth friends, shook hands for the last time, and after an affectionate parting, the Captain let his horse go.
"Mind, no tricks, Ruperto!" the Jaguar said in a peremptory voice to the adventurer.
"All right, all right!" the latter growled in reply.
The horsemen left the prairie. The Jaguar looked after them as long as he could see them, and then returned thoughtfully to the jacal, which served as his tent.
CHAPTER V.
GENERAL RUBIO
As the opportunity offers itself, let us say a few words about the military organization of the United States of Mexico, an organization as singular as all the rest of the machinery by means of which the strange government of this eccentric Republic does its
