Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 3).djvu/23

 This question was to me what a sudden glimpse of a springtide sun would be to a man born blind. A ray of hope gleamed in front of me, so unexpectedly, so strong, that it confused me. "A musician?" I cried, "yes, yes, General; he is a musician, a great musician!" You, Basilio, were then lying unconscious.

"What instrument does he play?" asked the General.

"Why—er, the—er, that is, the—why, of course, he plays the cornet-à-piston,' I stammered.

"Do we want a cornet-player?" asked the General, turning to the band.

Five seconds, which seemed like five centuries, passed before the answer came. "Yes, General, we do want one," answered the bandmaster.

"Take this man away, then, and let the execution go on," said the General. So I took you in my arms, and brought you to this prison.'

"Ramon had scarcely finished when I jumped up, and, forgetting where we were, embraced him: trembling all over, and laughing and crying at the same time.

I owe you my life!' I said.

Not quite,' answered Ramon.

What do you mean?' I cried.

Can you play the cornet?' he asked.

No,' I replied.

Then we have a bad look-out.' And indeed, children, a cold shudder went through me.

And music?' asked Ramon. 'Do you understand music?'

A little, very little; just what we learnt at college—you know how much that was.'

Yes, that is a little—we might as well say nothing. You are doomed, without doubt, and I also for having deceived them, for the band to which you are to belong must be ready in two weeks.'

In two weeks!'

Neither more nor less. And if you cannot play the cornet—well, unless Providence works a miracle on our behalf, they will shoot us both without mercy.'

Shoot you!' I exclaimed. You! and through me; me, whose life you saved! No, Heaven will not permit it! In fourteen days I will play the cornet!' And Ramon laughed.

"Well, children, in a fortnight—such is the power of the will—in fourteen days, with fourteen nights (I did not sleep or rest the whole time), I learnt to play the cornet. Yes, you may well stare.

"Oh! what days those were! Ramon and I went out from the camp into the fields, and spent the whole day with a musician, who came from a neighbouring town to give me lessons.

"I neither spoke nor thought; I scarcely