Короли и капуста

           "Dearadmiral,"criedthelargeman,andhisvoicewaslikeablastfromahorn,"Ikissyourhands.Iknewwecouldbuilduponyourfidelity.Youhadourdespatch—fromGeneralMartinez.Alittlenearerwithyourboat,dearAdmiral.Uponthesedevilsofshiftingvineswestandwiththesmallestsecurity."

           Feliperegardedhimwithastolidface.

           "ProvisionsandbeefforthebarracksatAlforan,"hequoted.

           "Nofaultofthebutchers,Almirantemio,thatthebeefawaitsyounot.Butyouarecomeintimetosavethecattle.Getusaboardyourvessel,señor,atonce.Youfirst,caballeros—ápriesa!Comebackforme.Theboatistoosmall."

           Thedoryconveyedthetwoofficerstothesloop,andreturnedforthelargeman.

           "Haveyousogrossathingasfood,goodadmiral?"hecried,whenaboard."And,perhaps,coffee?Beefandprovisions!NombredeDios!alittlelongerandwecouldhaveeatenoneofthosemulesthatyou,ColonelRafael,salutedsofeelinglywithyourswordscabbardatparting.Letushavefood;andthenwewillsail—forthebarracksatAlforan—no?"

           TheCaribspreparedameal,towhichthethreepassengersofElNacionalsetthemselveswithfamisheddelight.Aboutsunset,aswasitscustom,thebreezeveeredandsweptbackfromthemountains,coolandsteady,bringingatasteofthestagnantlagoonsandmangroveswampsthatgutteredthelowlands.Themainsailofthesloopwashoistedandswelledtoit,andatthatmomenttheyheardshoutsandawaxingclamourfromtheboskyprofunditiesoftheshore.