The stirring and harassing events of the day, though they had exhausted the spirit of the youth, had yet brought with exhaustion that nervous irritableness which drives away slumber from the eyes of the over-weary. Twice or thrice, Juan had flung himself on the couch to repose, but in vain; and as he now sat questioning himself how far the substitution of soft mats and robes for a bed of earth, might account for his inability to sleep, he began to revolve in his mind, for the twentieth time, his change of fortunes, and wonder at the inauspicious, and, as it seemed to him, unnatural sadness, which oppressed his spirits.
"I have been restored," he muttered, half aloud,--and, as he spoke, Befo, roused by the accents from the floor, thrust his rough head over his knees, to testify his attention,--"I have been restored to favour, and, in great part, to the friendship of the General.--Thou whinest, Befo! I would I could read the heart of a man as clearly as thine.--Yet has he not distinguished me with a high command,--a captain's? I trow, it is not every one who can so soon step into this dignity, especially when without the recommendation of birth, as Alvarado hinted.--I will show this proud cavalier, that God does not confine all merit to hidalgos' sons. If he give me but a capable force--Twenty foot and six horse?--'tis but a weak array for a field where eighty men have perished. Yet I care not: if I have but Xicotencal to back me, with some two or three _xiquipils_[9] of his Tlascalans, it will be enough. If I fall,--perhaps _that_ will be better: I am too faint-hearted for these wars. Villafana says, that he brands the prisoners too, and sells them for slaves. This is surely unjust--He was another man at Cuba."
[Footnote 9: _Xiquipil_--a military division of natives, consisting of eight thousand men.]
At this moment, the dog raised his head and growled, and Juan heard steps approaching through the long passage, that ran by his door. Here they stopped, and Befo continuing to give utterance to his displeasure, the voice of Villafana whispered through the curtain,
"Put thy hand on the beast's neck, or box him o' the ears--He is no friend of mine."
"Enter," said Juan, "if thou art seeking me. He will do thee no harm."