"Which way now, Mr. Spaniard?" said Long Jim. "Has your captain repented,
an' does he want to give us the finest rooms in his house? I can't say
that we liked the tavern he made us stop at last night."
Luiz shook his head, either to signify that he did not understand or that
there was no reply, and led the way down a narrow path shut in on either
side with magnolias and cypresses. The little group of soldiers enclosed
Paul and Long Jim, but all their glances were for the boy, none for the
man.
The enclosed path led on for two or three hundred yards. Paul now and then
caught glimpses through the trees of the chateau or a passing face, and he
heard a low murmur that seemed to be the hum of many voices.
The path ended presently at a gate in a high board wall, and both gate and
wall were thick and strong Here a Spaniard dressed like a minor officer
was waiting, and began to unlock the gate.
"Now what under the sun can they be about?" asked Long Jim, to whom all
this seemed very strange. "Are they goin' to tie us up in a pen?"
The heavy gate was unlocked and swung open a foot or so. Two soldiers
suddenly seized Long Jim and pulled him back, while another thrust Paul
into the open space. The officer put in his hand a sword--the very one
with which he had wounded Alvarez, Paul's fingers closing mechanically
over the hilt.
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