You might find among them a pass or two which would be mighty useful to us." "Do you mind if I light a cigarette ?" asked the officer.

"You can see that my hands and the cigarettes alike are on the table." "Go ahead," said Obed hospitably, "but don't waste time." The officer lighted the cigarette and took a satisfied whiff.

Ned searched among the papers, turning them over rapidly.
"Yes, here is a pass!" exclaimed he joyfully, "and here is another and here are two more!" "Two will be enough," said Obed.
"I'll take this one made out to Joaquin de la Barra for you and one to Diego Fernandez for me.

Ah, what are these ?" He held up four papers, looking at them in succession.
"What are they ?" asked Obed White.
"Death warrants.

They are all for men with Mexican names, and they are signed with the name of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, General-in-chief and President of the Mexican Republic." The officer took the cigarette from his mouth and sent out a little smoke through his nostrils.
"Yes, they are death warrants," he said.