'Pedro, before deigning to answer, drew forth a very soiled rag, which
served him as a handkerchief, and proceeded to rub his eyes with no
little vigor, a pantomime which was intended no doubt to convey the idea
of tears having dimmed his eyes.

''Alas! Excellency,' said he at length, in a lugubrious tone; 'poor
Pepito is in sad trouble.'

''Have you been fighting again? Have you killed him?' I exclaimed.

''Killed him? _I_ kill him!' he repeated indignantly; 'how can you
imagine such an outrage, Caballero? Kill my best friend! No, Señor; but
poor Pepito has been pressed into a military company. To-morrow, they
will uniform him and march him off to some frontier regiment.'

''Is there no way of buying him off?' inquired Arthur.

''Nothing more easy, Caballero. You have simply to write to the General
who commands the department, and state that Pepito is attached to your
person, as a personal attendant, and that will suffice to set him at
liberty. They never press people in service.'

'Mr. Livermore lost no time in following Pedro's advice. As soon as the
letter was handed to him, the latter waved it in triumph over his head,
and rushed forth to effect the deliverance of his dear compadre, Pepito.

'The impressment of Pepito surprised me, for I had not heard of their
taking any body who had reached the dignity of a pair of inexpressibles,
and the luxury of a pair of shoes. The Indians in the neighborhood of
the capital, besotted by drink and misery, almost naked, and living or