THE DUNGEON UNDER THE SEA Ned, early the next morning, saw Santa Anna with his brilliant escort ride away toward the capital, while General Cos resumed his march to Vera Cruz.

Almonte did not reappear at all, and the boy surmised that he was under orders to join the dictator.
Ned continued on foot among the Tlascalans.

Cos offered him no kindness whatever, and his pride would not let him ask for it.

But when he looked at his sore and bleeding feet he always thought of the patient burro that he had lost.

They marched several more days, and the road dropped down into the lowlands, into the tierra caliente.