Finally the soldiers
had refused to advance again, and their captain had sent for a
cannon. During the wait Longorio had ridden up.
"'Come! Make haste!' said he, 'That house obstructs my view.'"
Seeing that Alaire was deeply interested in this recital, the old
lieutenant paused dramatically.
"Well, the capitan explained that an army was insufficient to take
that house; that it meant death to all who approached. I was not
present--God be praised!--but others told me what happened.
General Longorio dismounted and embraced the capitan--he kissed
him on the cheek, saying:
"'Adios, my dear good friend. I fear I have seen the last of you.'
"Then what? Senora, you would never guess." The speaker shook his
head. "Longorio took two dynamite grenades, and, laughing like a
boy, he ran forward before any one knew what he was about. It is
nothing but the truth, senora, and he a general! This capitan
loved him dearly, and so his bones turned to rope when the windows
of that accursed house began to vomit fire and the dust began to
fly. They say that the dead men in the street rose to their knees
and crossed themselves--I only repeat what I was told by those who
looked on.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177