"As a rule, I call my own councils of war, but no doubt Mr. Aiken has
some very good reason for affording me the pleasure of your company.
What is it, Mr. Aiken?"

Instead of answering him, Aiken said, with as much manner as that of
General Garcia himself, "I want a guard put outside this house, and I
want the men placed far enough from it to prevent their hearing what I
say." The General nodded at me, and I ordered the sentries to move
farther from the hut. I still remember the tableau I saw when I re-
entered it, the row of officers leaning against the mud walls, the
candles stuck in their own grease on the table, the maps spread over
it, and the General and Aiken facing each other from its either end.
It looked like a drumhead court-martial.

When I had shut the door of the hut Aiken spoke. His tone was one of
calm unconcern.

"I have just come from the Palace," he said, "where I have been having
a talk with President Alvarez."

No one made a sound, nor no one spoke, but like one man everyone in
the room reached for his revolver. It was a most enlightening
revelation of our confidence in Aiken. Laguerre did not move. He was
looking steadily at Aiken and his eyes were shining like two arc
lamps.

"By whose authority?" he asked.

We, who knew every tone of his voice, almost felt sorry for Aiken.