The mellow trumpet pealed forth again, and Santa Anna advanced to meet his brother, Cos, who likewise advanced to meet him.  They met in full view of both forces, and embraced and kissed each other.  Then a shout came forth from hundreds of throats at the noble spectacle of fraternal amity.  The two forces coalesced with much Latin joy and chatter, and camp was pitched in the savanna.

Ned stayed with the Tlascalans, because he had no choice but to do so.  They flung him a tortilla or two, and he had plenty of water, but what he wanted most was rest.  He threw himself on the grass, and, as the Tlascalans did not disturb him, he lay there until long after nightfall.  He would have remained there until morning had not two soldiers come with a message that he was wanted by Santa Anna himself.

Ned rose, smoothed out his hair, draped his serape as gracefully as he could about his shoulders, and, assuming all the dignity that was possible, went with the men.  He had made up his mind that boldness of manner and speech was his best course and it suited his spirit.  He was led into a large tent or rather a great marquee, and he stood there for a few moments dazzled.

The floor of the marquee was spread with a thick velvet carpet.  A table loaded with silver dishes was between the generals, and a dozen lamps on the walls shed a bright light over velvet carpet, silver dishes and the faces of the two men who held the fortunes of Mexico in the hollows of their hands.  General Cos smiled the same cold and evil smile that Ned had noticed at their first meeting, but Santa Anna spoke in a tone half of surprise and half of pity.

“Ah, it is the young Fulton!  And he is in evil plight!  You would not accept my continued hospitality at the capital, and behold what you have suffered!”

Ned looked steadily at him.  He could not fathom the thought that lay behind the words of Santa Anna.  The man was always appearing to him in changing colors.  So he merely waited.

“It was a pleasure to me,” said Santa Anna, “to learn from General Cos that you had been retaken.  Great harm might have come to you wandering through the mountains and deserts of the north.  You could never have reached the Texans alive, and since you could not do so it was better to have come back to us, was it not?”

“I have not come willingly.”

General Cos frowned, but Santa Anna laughed.

“That was frank,” he said, “and we will be equally frank with you.  You would go north to the Texans, telling them that I mean to come with an army and crush them.  Is it not so?”

“It is,” replied Ned boldly.

Santa Anna smiled.  He did not seem to be offended at all.  His manner, swift, subtle and changing, was wholly attractive, and Ned felt its fascination.

“Be your surmise true or not,” said the dictator, “it is best for you not to reach Texas.  I have discussed the matter with my brother, General Cos, in whom I have great confidence, and we have agreed that since you undertook to reach Vera Cruz you can go there.  General Cos will be your escort on the way, and, as I go to the capital in the morning, I wish you a pleasant journey and a happy stay in our chief seaport.”