This man had lost his wife, his little son, and all
the scanty belongings he possessed. With shaking hands upstretched
to heaven, the fellow cursed the author of his misfortunes.
"I live for one thing!" he cried, shrilly. "To meet that monster,
and to butcher him, as he butchers women and children."
O'Reilly purposely left his most unpleasant task to the last. When
his arrangements had been completed and he had acquainted himself
as far as possible with the hazards he was likely to encounter, he
took Jacket aside and broke the news to him that on the following
morning they must part. As he had expected, the boy refused to
listen to him. O'Reilly remained firm and Jacket adopted those
tactics which had proved so potent with General Gomez. He began to
weep copiously. He worked himself up to a hysterical crescendo
which threatened to arouse the entire encampment. But O'Reilly was
unmoved.
"Be quiet," he told the boy. "I won't let you go with me, and that
ends it."
"You dassent leave me," sobbed the youngster. "I got no friend but
you."
"It will be hard enough for one man to slip through; two would be
sure to fail."
"Those Spaniards will skill you!" Jacket wailed.
"So much the more reason for you to stay here."
At this the boy uttered a louder cry. He stamped his bare feet in
a frenzy of disappointment.
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