"I don't know what you may mean by rough and tough, general," said
Ruez, with evident feeling evinced in his voice; "but I know, very
well, that Captain Bezan is as brave as a lion, and I don't believe
there is a man in your service who can swim with such weight as he
can do."
"May be not," replied the general, with assumed indifference.
"Then why say that he's not rough and tough? that means something,"
continued the boy, with not a little pertinacity in defence of his
new friend.
"There's some difference, let me tell you, Master Ruez, between
facing an enemy with blazing gunpowder before your eyes, and merely
swimming a while in cold water."
"The very wounds that came so near proving fatal to Captain Bezan,
prove that he can fight, general, as well as swim," said Ruez,
rather smartly, in reply, while Isabella Gonzales glanced at her
brother with evident tokens of satisfaction in her face.
"You are enthusiastic in your friend's behalf," said General Harero,
coldly.
"And well I may be, since I not only owe him my own life, but that
of my dear sister and father," continued Ruez, quite equal to the
general's remark in any instance.
"Certainly, you are right, Master Ruez," said General Harero, biting
his lips, as he saw that Isabella was regarding him with more than
ordinary attention.
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