Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/164

  saluted. At the same moment there came from one of the casemates a fit of violent but muffled coughing.

Is this the sort of watch which is kept in the prison?' I demanded, roughly. 'His Excellency, my uncle, would be pleased to hear of it.'

"The man was badly frightened. He stammered something about not being asleep; then, as I peered into his face, I recognized him as one of the men of my command.

" 'Ah, my friend,' said I, in an altered tone, 'you are one of those who arrived to-day?'

" 'Yes, Señor Capitan,' he answered.

" 'But that is different,' said I, kindly. 'How is it that you are on duty? There has been some mistake. I gave orders that you were to have a night's sleep. There has been a mistake, but never mind, sleep here, if you like; God knows you have reason to be tired, and that there are three times men enough to guard a handful of miserables.'

" 'Thank you, Señor Capitan,' he [ 148 ]