It was a pleasanter sound than any he had heard, and he listened to it eagerly.

After a little the voice seemed to draw nearer, and he could distinguish the words, "el Yanko." He, then, was the subject of that gay conversation.

A moment later, from the same source, came an expression that numbed him with the awfulness of its possible meaning.

"To be shot at sunrise?
Poor fellow!" Could he be the "poor fellow" meant?
Of course not; but then he might be.
Such a summary disposition of prisoners was not unknown to Spanish jailers.
While his mind was busy with this startling question the laughing voice, now lowered almost to a whisper, approached his door, and he became conscious of a scrutiny through the grating.

Also a discussion was going on outside, and he heard: "No, no, not a smile, not a word, unless you open the door so that I may see el Yanko.