"Two!" quoth Sir Richard, and fell to reloading his piece, wadding the charge with strips from his ragged garments.
The fall of this Spaniard caused no little stir among our unseen assailants, for the air rang with fierce outcries and the shrill battle hootings of the Indians, and a shower of arrows rattled among the rocks about us and thereafter a volley of shot, and no scathe to us.
"War is a hateful thing!" quoth Sir Richard suddenly. "See yon Spaniard I shot, God forgive me--hark how he groaneth, poor soul!" And he showed me the Spaniard, who writhed ever and anon where he lay across the rock and wailed feebly for water. "Methinks 'twere merciful to end his sufferings, Martin!"
"Mayhap, sir, though we have few enough charges to spare!"
"Thus speaketh cold prudence and common sense, Martin, and yet--"
But here the matter was put beyond dispute for, even as Sir Richard levelled his musket, the wounded Spaniard slipped and rolled behind the rock and lay quite hid save for a hand and arm that twitched feebly ever and anon.
"And he was crying for water!" sighed Sir Richard, "Thirst is an agony, as we do know. Hark, he crieth yet! Twere act commendable to give drink to a dying man, enemy though he be."
"Most true, sir, but--nay, what would you?" I said, grasping his arm as he made to rise.
"Endeavour as much good as I may in the little of life left to me, Martin. The poor soul lieth none so far and--"
"Sir--sir!" quoth I, tightening my hold. "You would be shot ere you had gone a yard--are ye mad indeed or--do you seek death?" Now at this he was silent, and I felt him trembling.
"This is as God willeth, Martin!" said he at last. "Howbeit I must go; prithee loose me, dear lad!"
"Nay!" cried I harshly. "If you will have our enemy drink, I shall bear it myself--"
"No, no!" cried he, grappling me in turn as I rose. "What I may do you cannot--be reasonable, Martin--you bulk so much greater than I, they cannot fail of such a mark--"
Now as we argued the matter thus, each mighty determined, Pluto set up a joyous barking and, rising on three legs, stood with ears cocked and tail wagging, the which put me in no small perplexity until, all at once, certain bushes that grew hard by swayed gently and forth of the leaves stepped an Indian clad for battle, like a great chief or cacique (as 'tis called) for on arm and breast and forehead gold glittered, and immediately we knew him for Atlamatzin.