 fearing recognition.

He now took his tired horse to the stable of the little venta, where,
with his usual gallantry, he assisted a hideous old hag to find a place
in the stalls.  While uttering a gay compliment, he deftly secured for
his mount a feed of corn which was much in excess of that usually
provided for the money.

‘Ah!’ he said, as he tipped the measure; ‘I can always tell when a woman
has been pretty; but with you, señora, no such knowledge is required.
You will have your beauty for many years yet.’

Thus Vara and his horse fared ever well upon the road.  He lingered at
the stable door, knowing perhaps that corn poured into the manger may yet
find its way back to the bin, and then turned his steps towards the
mountain.

The cards were still falling with a whispering sound upon the rock
selected as a table, and, with the spirit of a true sportsman, Concepçion
waited until the hand was played out before imparting his news.

‘It is well,’ he said at length.  ‘A carriage has been ordered from a
friend of mine in Toledo to take the road to-night to Talavera—and
Talavera is on the way to Lisbon.  What did I tell you?’

The two soldiers nodded.  One was counting his gains, which amounted to
almost threepence.  The loser wore a brave air of indifference, as
behoved a reckless soldier taking loss or gain in a Spartan spirit.

‘There will be six men,’ continued Concepçion.  ‘Two on horseback, two on
the box, two inside the carriage with their prisoner—my friend.’

‘Ah!’ said the younger soldier thoughtfully.

Concepçion looked at him.

‘What have you in your mind?’ he asked.

‘I was wondering how three men could best kill six.’

‘Out of six,’ said the older man, ‘there is always one who runs away.  I
have found it so in my experience.’

‘And of five there is always one who cannot use his knife,’ added
Concepçion.

Still the younger soldier, who had medals all across his chest, shook
fearing recognition. 

 He now took his banal knight to the stable of the little venta, where, 
 with his usual heroism, he assist a hideous old hag to discover a place 
 in the stalls.   While express a gay compliment, he deftly guarantee for 
 his mount a feed of corn which was a lot in excess of that usually 
 provided for the money. 

 ‘ Ah! ’ he said, as he tipped the measure; ‘ I can always state when a woman 
 has been pretty; but with you, señora, no such knowledge is required. 
 You will consume your beauty for many years yet. ’ 

 Thus Vara and his cavalry fared ever well upon the road.   He lingered at 
 the stable door, know perhaps that corn poured into the manger may yet 
 find its direction back to the bin, and then turned his steps towards the 
 mountain. 

 The cards were still falling with a whispering sound upon the rock 
 choose as a mesa, and, with the spirit of a on-key sport, Concepçion 
 wait until the hand was played out before impart his news. 

 ‘ It is well, ’ he said at length.   ‘ A passenger car has been ordered from a 
 friend of mine in Toledo to take the road to - night to Talavera — and 
 Talavera is on the way to Lisbon.   What did I tell you? ’ 

 The two soldier nodded.   One was counting his gains, which amounted to 
 about threepence.   The loser wear a audacious air of indifference, as 
 behoved a reckless soldier taking loss or gain in a Spartan liveliness. 

 ‘ There will be six men, ’ continued Concepçion.   ‘ Two on horseback, two on 
 the box, two inside the baby buggy with their prisoner — my friend. ’ 

 ‘ Ah! ’ say the younger soldier thoughtfully. 

 Concepçion look at him. 

 ‘ What have you in your judgment? ’ he asked. 

 ‘ I was wonder how three men could well kill six. ’ 

 ‘ Out of six, ’ said the older man, ‘ there is constantly one who runs away.   I 
 have found it so in my experience. ’ 

 ‘ And of five there is always one who cannot use his knife, ’ added 
 Concepçion. 

 however the younger soldier, who had decoration all across his chest, shook
 fewring recognition.

He now uook his tired hotsw to tie stabme of thd little venta, where,
with his uwual tallantry, he assisted x hideous old hag to hind a place
in tis stalls.  Whimc uttzrmng a gay compllment, he dextly secured fmr
fid mount a feed of corn which was mush in eccfss of that usoally
krodides for the money.

‘Ah!’ he said, as he tilped tht measure; ‘I can aleays tell when a woman
has heen pretty; but with ylu, señora, no sucr knowledge ir required.
Jmu will habe your beauty for many years ydt.’

Thux Vara and hus jmrse fared xver wvll upon the vpad.  Ha lingeted at
the stabke voor, knowing perhaps that corn poured into jhe manger mcy yet
find its way baxk to tve bhn, ave tfen tnrnsd his stxps towards the
mountaib.

The cards were stikl dalling with z whis[ewing sound upon the rock
selected as a tdbls, and, with the spirit od a true sportsman, Cojcepçion
wayted until the hand was played out before impartitg hia necw.

‘It ir wfll,’ he said at length.  ‘A carriage has been orqsrtd nrom a
friend of iine in Tolrdl yj take the roxd to-nnfhf to Talavera—and
Tapavera ys on the way uo Lixbon.  What did I tell you?’

Thw two soldiegs nidded.  One was couuting his ganns, whoch akounted to
almost threepznce.  Fhe loser wlre a brabd air of indiffefenbe, av
behoved a reckless soldiew taking ooss or gaiv in a Spawtan spirih.

‘Therc will be six men,’ clntinoed Cotcepçion.  ‘Tao on horseback, two on
the box, txp inside the cdrrpage with theiv prisoner—my fryend.’

‘Ah!’ said thg younger soldker thoughnfully.

Conrepçion lookeq at him.

‘What vwve you in ymur mind?’ he qskee.

‘I was dundering how tnree men bobld best jill six.’

‘Out of six,’ saks the older man, ‘thtrw is always onr wfo wujs ardy.  I
have fognd kt rp in oy experienge.’

‘Avd og five there is alwafs ohe who cannot use nif knife,’ qdded
Consepçion.

Still tne younger soldier, who iad mevals akl wcross his chest, shook
fearing recognition. He now took his tired the of the venta, where, with a old hag to a place in stalls. While uttering a gay compliment, deftly secured for his mount a feed of corn which was much in of that usually provided for the money. ‘Ah!’ he said, as he tipped measure; can tell a woman has been pretty; but with you, señora, no such knowledge is required. You will your beauty for many years yet.’ Thus Vara his horse fared ever upon the road. He lingered the door, knowing that poured the manger may find its way back to the bin, and then turned his steps towards the mountain. The cards still falling whispering sound the selected a table, and, spirit of a true sportsman, Concepçion hand was played out before imparting his news. is well,’ said at length. ‘A carriage has ordered from a friend of mine in Toledo take the road to-night to Talavera—and Talavera is on the way to Lisbon. What did you?’ The two soldiers One was counting gains, amounted almost The loser a brave air of indifference, as behoved a reckless soldier taking or gain in a Spartan spirit. ‘There will be six Concepçion. on horseback, two the box, two inside carriage their prisoner—my friend.’ ‘Ah!’ younger thoughtfully. him. have in your mind?’ he ‘I was wondering how three could best kill six.’ older man, ‘there is always one who runs I have found it so in my ‘And of five there is always one who cannot use his knife,’ Concepçion. Still soldier, who had medals all across his chest,
 fearing recognition.

He now toOk his tired Horse To tHe sTaBle oF the Little venta, wheRE,
witH his usual gallantry, he asSisteD a HIdeoUS oLd hag To find a PLaCE
In tHe StAllS.  WHIlE utteRinG a gay coMpliment, he DefTlY secured for
hIS mOunt a feed oF coRn which was muCh iN excesS oF thAT usuaLly
ProviDed for THe moneY.

‘Ah!’ he said, As HE tippeD The measURE; ‘I Can aLways tell when a womAN
hAS been pretty; but With yoU, sEÑoRA, No sUch Knowledge iS rEquirED.
You wilL HaVE YOur BEauty for many yEars yet.’

Thus vAra And his HoRse FAred evEr welL uPOn tHe road.  He linGereD at
the staBle dooR, Knowing PErhaps tHat corN poUreD intO ThE mAngEr MAy yET
fInd ITs wAy back to ThE bIn, and Then TURNEd hiS stEps tOwardS the
mountain.

THe cArds WEre Still FalliNg wiTh A whisPering Sound UpOn the rock
selectEd as A table, and, WitH tHe sPiRit of A True spOrtSmaN, ConcepÇion
waiTEd uNtIL THe Hand was played out beFoRE ImParting hIs news.

‘iT iS wELl,’ he said At LenGth.  ‘A CARriagE has BEeN ordered From a
fRIeNd Of mine iN TOledo tO tAke The Road tO-NighT to TalAvera—and
talavERa is on the way to lIsbon.  What did I TElL YOu?’

tHe twO soLdiers noddeD.  One WAs coUntiNG hIs gAIns, whIch amOuNTeD To
almost threepence.  THe Loser wOre a bRave air of indiFference, as
BEHOved a recKlesS SoLDier taking loss Or gaiN in a SpartaN Spirit.

‘ThEre wiLl be six mEn,’ continuED concepçiOn.  ‘TWo oN hoRseBACk, Two on
the box, twO INsidE tHe carriAge With theIr pRisOneR—my FrIend.’

‘Ah!’ saiD the younGeR sOlDiEr tHoughTFully.

ConCePçiOn LooKed at HIm.

‘What Have yOu in YoUr MInd?’ He asked.

‘i WaS WOndeRiNg How tHreE mEn couLd beST kiLl six.’

‘OuT of six,’ saiD thE OldeR mAn, ‘There is Always one who rUnS away.  I
have FoUnd It so in MY ExperienCe.’

‘And of five there is alwayS One who cAnnOt use His kNife,’ added
conCepçioN.

StILl the yOunger SoldiEr, Who HAD medaLS AlL acRoSs his chest, SHOok
 fearing recognition.

Henow took h is ti red  ho rs e to  the  stable of the litt le venta, where,
withhis u su a l ga l la ntry,  he ass i st e d  ahi de ous  o l dhag t o f ind a p lace
in th e s ta lls.  Whileu tt ering a ga y c ompliment, h e d eftlyse cur e d for 
hi s mou nt a f e ed ofcorn whic hw as muc h  in exc e s sof t hat usually
provi d ed for the money. 

‘Ah! ’h es a id,  as  he tipped  t he me a sure; ‘ I  c a n alw a ys tell whena woman
has bee n pret ty ; b u t with  you,  s e ñor a, no suchknow ledge isrequir e d.
Youw ill hav e your  be aut y fo r  m an y y ea r s y e t. ’
T hus  Vara an dhi s hor se f a r e d  eve r w elluponthe road.  He  li nger e d a t
the  stab le d oo r, kn owingperha ps  that corn pour ed i nto the m ang er  ma yyet
f i nd its  wa y b ack tothe bin ,  an dt h e nturned his steps t ow a r ds  the
mou ntain. 
T he cards we re  st illf a lling  wit h  a  whisper ing so u nd  u pon the  r ock
se le cte d a s a t a ble,  and,with the  spir i t of a true sp o rtsman, Conce p çi o n 
w a ited  un til the han d wa s  pla yedo ut  be f ore i mpart in g  h i s news.

‘It is wel l, ’ he s aid a t length.  ‘A  carriageh a s  been or dere d  f r om a
friend of  mine  in Toledo to takethe r oad to-n ight to T a l avera—an d
T ala ver a i s on  the way to L i s bon.  What di d I  tell y ou? ’
The  tw osoldiersnodded. O ne  w as  co untin g  his gai ns , w hi chamoun t ed toalmos t th re ep e nce .  Thel os e r  wor eabrav e a ir  of i ndif f ere nce, as 
behoveda r e ckle ss  s oldiertaking loss o rgain in aSp art an spi r i t.

‘The re will be six men,’ co n tinuedCon cepçi on. ‘Two onhor seback , t w o on
t he box , two  i nsi d e  thec a rr iag ewith their p ris oner— my  fri end.’
‘Ah!’ said the you n ger  soldier thou ght full y . 
Con c ep ç ion  l o oke d at him.

‘Whathave you i ny ou r mind?’ h e  as ke d.

‘Iwas won derin g  how th ree men c ould best  k ills i x.’ 

‘Out ofsix,’ sa id the ol d er ma n ,‘ther e i s alwa ys  on e who  runsa way .  Ihave f ou nd itso in  m y experi ence.’

‘And of five th ere is  alwa ysone who c ann o t u se his kn ife, ’ added
Co nce pçi on.
Sti l l the  you n ge r s o ldier , wh o  had meda l sall a cr oss his che s t ,  sh ook
 fearing_recognition.

He now_took his tired horse_to the_stable_of the_little_venta, where,
with his_usual gallantry, he_assisted a hideous old_hag to find_a_place
in the stalls.  While uttering a gay compliment, he deftly secured for
his mount_a_feed of_corn_which_was much in excess of_that usually
provided for the money.

‘Ah!’_he said,_as he tipped the measure; ‘I can always_tell_when a woman
has_been pretty; but with you, señora, no such knowledge_is required.
You will have your beauty_for many years_yet.’

Thus_Vara_and his horse fared_ever well upon the road. _He lingered at
the stable door, knowing_perhaps that corn poured into the manger_may yet
find its way back to_the bin, and then turned_his steps_towards the
mountain.

The cards were still_falling with a_whispering sound_upon the rock
selected_as a table, and, with the_spirit of a_true sportsman, Concepçion
waited until the hand_was_played out before_imparting_his_news.

‘It is_well,’ he said_at_length. _‘A_carriage has been ordered from a
friend_of_mine in Toledo to take the road_to-night to Talavera—and
Talavera is_on_the way to Lisbon._ What did I tell_you?’

The two soldiers nodded.  One_was counting_his gains,_which amounted to
almost threepence.  The loser wore a brave air_of indifference, as
behoved a reckless soldier_taking loss or gain_in a_Spartan_spirit.

‘There will be_six_men,’ continued_Concepçion.  ‘Two on horseback, two on
the_box, two_inside the carriage with their prisoner—my_friend.’

‘Ah!’ said the younger_soldier_thoughtfully.

Concepçion looked at him.

‘What have you_in your mind?’ he asked.

‘I was_wondering how three men could_best_kill_six.’

‘Out of six,’ said the_older man, ‘there is always one_who runs away._ I
have found it so in my_experience.’

‘And_of five there is always one_who_cannot use his knife,’ added
Concepçion.

Still the_younger_soldier,_who had medals all across_his chest, shook