MARQTJINEZ AND LA COLLEGIALA. 171 



time as Marquinez, weary with the day's exertions, 

 soon fell asleep in one of the three or four rickety 

 chairs which composed nearly the whole furniture 

 of the room. His chief did not seem inclined to 

 follow his example, but paced up and down, apparently 

 wrapt in thought. His monotonous promenade had 

 lasted nearly an hour, when he thought he heard his 

 name pronounced. He started and listened, but no 

 sound reached his ears save the measured step of the 

 sentinel under his window, and the burden of an old 

 French chanson a boire, which one of the men on 

 guard was trolling out, with a voice more remarkable 

 for power than melody. Marquinez threw himself 

 into a chair, and attributing to an excited imagination 

 the words which he had fancied he heard, appeared 

 disposed to imitate his aide-de-camp, who was for- 

 getting in sleep the dangers of his position, and the 

 probable death that awaited him. The eyes of the 

 captive guerilla were beginning to close, and his head 

 to sink \ipon his breast, when the same voice as be- 

 fore broke the silence. " Marquinez ! " was repeated 

 in a loud whisper. The word was accompanied by a 

 noise such as is produced by a slight blow of iron 

 against iron. This time it was no delusion of a 

 heated brain. Marquinez rushed to the window, 

 and looked out as Avell as the grating would permit. 

 All was still. The night was raw and wintry, and 

 it was only at rare intervals that the watery rays of 

 the moon obtained a passage through some break in 



