“Yes, thar’s Alvarez,” said Shif’less Sol.  “He’s light, an’ that’s one reason why I mistrusted him the first time I saw him.  It looks more nateral fur a Spaniard to be dark.”

As they stood in the Place d’Armes looking at the sights, the five themselves began to attract much attention.  Their height and strength, their long, sender barreled rifles, and their deerskin attire made them highly picturesque figures.  The motley population of New Orleans was used to all kinds of people, armed or unarmed, but generally armed.  These, however, were different.  They bore themselves with dignity, there was about them an air of absolute simplicity and honesty, and they kept close together in a manner that indicated a faithful brotherhood, closer even than the brotherhood of blood.  They seemed to come from another world than that which furnished so many desperate adventurers and former galley slaves to New Orleans.

Henry noticed the attention that they were attracting, and he did not like it.

“Perhaps, boys, we’d better go back to our boat,” he said.

But before any one could answer he was tapped lightly on the arm and, turning about, he saw the small, trim figure of Lieutenant Diego Bernal, who had been the first man to greet them as they entered New Orleans.

“We met on the water, as you know,” said the little lieutenant, smiling in a friendly manner.  “My name is Bernal, Diego Bernal, and I am a lieutenant in the service of our most excellent Governor General, Bernardo Galvez.”

His manner was polite, and Henry met him half way.  He had nothing to conceal, and he gave him the names of his comrades and himself.  Lieutenant Bernal all the time was regarding them shrewdly.

“It is evident that you are mighty men despite the youth of some of you,” he said, “and I begin to suspect it from other facts also.”

“What other facts?” asked Henry.

“Now, there is the matter of your boat,” replied the lieutenant jauntily.  “I had a belief, wrong no doubt, that she was of Spanish build.  I also seemed to have a recollection, wrong, too, no doubt, that I had once seen Francisco Alvarez, the chief of our captains, aboard that boat and bearing himself in a manner that indicated ownership.  I am wrong, no doubt.  My impressions are often false and my memory always weak.  Gladly would I stand correction.  Gladly would I be convinced that I am misled by some fancied resemblance.”

“Them’s pow’ful big words,” said Long Jim.

Henry, who was always the leader of the five when they were together, looked into the eyes of Diego Bernal, and he seemed to see there the curious contraction that is called a wink.  He gave judgment at once concerning Diego Bernal.

“I take it,” he said by way of reply, “that you are no great friend of the captain, Francisco Alvarez?”

“If a higher officer rebukes you unjustly and sneers at a commander whom you respect and like, is it calculated to promote friendship?”