But this was more than mortal man could do. He paused,
lingering irresolutely, when the colonel noticed his agitation, and
quickly guessed the exact state of the case.
"'The girl I left behind me,' eh, sergeant-major? Well, fall out for a
minute or two, if you like"--and, with this kindly and considerate
permission, McKay took Mariquita aside to make his last _adieux_.
"_Adios! vida mia_" [good-bye, my life], he was saying, when the poor
girl almost fainted in his arms.
He looked round, greatly perplexed, and happily his eye fell upon
Sergeant Hyde.
"Here, Hyde," he said, "take charge of this dear girl."
"What! sergeant-major, have you been caught in the toils of one of
these bright-eyed damsels? It is well we have got the route. They are
dangerous cattle, these women; and, if you let them, will hang like a
mill-stone round a soldier's neck."
"Pshaw! man, don't moralise. This girl is my heart's choice. Please
Heaven I may return to console her for present sorrow. But I can't
wait. Help me: I can trust you. See Mariquita safely back to her home,
and then join us on board."
"I shall be taken up as a deserter."
"Nonsense! I will see to that with the adjutant. We do not sail for
two hours at least; you will have plenty of time."
Sergeant Hyde, although unwillingly, accepted the trust, and thus met
Mariquita for the first time.
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