"Agave Viejo, he's at... Agave Viejo..."

"Excellent," said Evarado, clapping the mangled form of the prisoner on the back. "You have made my day."

"Please, just kill me," the prisoner begged weakly. 

Evarado nodded, "of course, Evarado Anselmo never breaks a promise." 

He placed the barrel of his Mauser against the man's badly bruised face, and pulled the trigger.

-----------------------------------------

"Agave Viejo is just a ranch, we've checked it a dozen times," said Manuel, loading shells into his rifle. "We'd of found something, if the rebels were there."

Evarado stroked his mousache thoughtfully. "Perhaps," he conceded, "but then maybe you weren't as er... thorough as me?" 

Manuel was puzzled. "We tore the place apart, the only things we found were weeping villagers and starving cattle." 

"Oh Sergeant, my wonderful Sergeant," chirped Evarado sarcastically. "The rebels' weakness is their passion. Surely you thought of shooting down some of the womenfolk?"

Manuel shook his head. "I only kill when I see an enemy." 

Evarado laughed loudly. "My friend, the enemy are all around us. A few dead innocents is a low price to play when compared to the chaos that would unfold if the rebels won. Come, let us leave." 

The Mexican 21st Infantry Company mounted on their horses, all sixty of them, and left the safety of El Presido. Normally Capitan Evarado would not risk so much, when the stakes were so high, but if he could end this rebellion to day, then he was prepared to sacrifice everything to achieve his goal.