was, in truth, an extraordinary presence. He seemed to radiate an
influence that at once attracted and repelled. His dark features were
cut sharply and clearly. His eyes, set closely together, were of the
most intense black that Ned had ever seen in a human head. Nor were
those eyes ever at rest. They roamed over everything, and they seemed to
burn every object for the single instant they fell there. They never met
the gaze of either American squarely, although they continually came
back to both.

This man was clothed in a white uniform, heavy with gold stripes and
gold epaulets. A small sword at his side had a gold hilt set with a
diamond. He wore a three-cornered hat shaped like that of Napoleon, but
instead of the Corsican's simple gray his was bright in color and
splendid with plumage.

He was at once a powerful and sinister figure. Ned felt that he was in
the presence of genius, but it belonged to one of those sinuous
creatures, shining and terrible, that are bred under the vivid sun of
the tropics. There was a singular sensation at the roots of his hair,
but, resolved to show neither fear nor apprehension, he stood and gazed
directly at Santa Anna.

"Be seated, Mr. Austin," said the General, "and close the door, de
Zavala, but remain with us. Your young relative can remain, also. I have
things of importance to say, but it is not forbidden to him, also, to
hear them."

Ned sat down and so did Mr. Austin and young de Zavala, but Santa Anna
remained standing. It seemed to Ned that he did so because he wished to
look down upon them from a height. And all the time the black eyes, like