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 southern races, wanting in the misty idealism of the irrners, who at the smallest encouragement drram of nothing less than the conquest of the earth. Sotillo was fond of jewels, gold trinkets, of personal adornment. After a moment he turned about, and with a mantling gesture made all his officers fall hark, lid down the watch on the table, then, negligently, pushed his hat over it.

"Ha!" he began, going up very close to the chair. "You dare call my valiant soldiers of the Esmeralda regiment thieves? You dare? What impudence! You foreigners come here to rob our country of its wealth. You never have enough! Your audacity knows no bounds."

He looked towards the officers, among whom there was an approving murmur. The old major was moved to declare:

"Si, mi coronel. They are all traitors."

"I shall say nothing," continued Sotillo, fixing the motionless and powerless Mitchell with an angry but uneasy stare. " I shall say nothing of your treacherous attempt to get possession of my revolver to shoot me while I was trying to treat you with a consideration you did not deserve. You have forfeited your life. Your only hope is in my clemency."

He watched for the effect of his words, but there was no obvious sign of fear on Captain Mitchell's face. Hi white hair was full of dust, which covered also the rest of his helpless person. As if he had heard nothing, he twitched an eyebrow to get rid of a bit of straw which hung among the hairs.

Sotillo advanced one leg and put his arms akimbo.