Carlos, on leaving his cave, proceeded with the caution natural to one
circumstanced as he was. But this night he was more than usually
careful. He scanned every bush and rock that stood near his path, and
that might have sheltered an enemy. Why to-night more cautious than
before? Because a suspicion had crossed his mind--and that, too, having
reference to the very men who were at the moment in ambush so near him!
At various times of late had his thoughts reverted to these men. He
knew them well, and knew the hostile feelings with which both, but
particularly the mulatto, regarded him. He thought of the probability
of their being set upon his trail, and he knew their capability to
follow it. This had made him _more_ uneasy than all the scouting of the
dragoons with their unpractised leaders. He was aware that, if the
cunning mulatto and his scarce less sagacious comrade were sent after
him, his cave would not shelter him long, and there would be an end to
his easy communication with the settlement.
These thoughts were sources of uneasiness; and would have been still
more so, had he not believed that the hunters were absent upon the
plains. Under this belief he had hopes of being able to settle his
affairs and get off before their return. That morning, however, his
hopes had met with discouragement.
It was a little after daylight when he returned to his hiding-place.
Antonio, watched closely by the spies, had not been able to reach the
rendezvous until a late hour,--hence the detention of Carlos. On going
back to his cave he had crossed a fresh trail coming in from the
northern end of the Llano Estacado. It was a trail of horses, mules,
and dogs; and Carlos, on scrutinising it, soon acquainted himself with
the number of each that had passed. He knew it was the exact number of
these animals possessed by the yellow hunter and his comrade; and this
startled him with the suspicion that it was the return trail of these
men from their hunt upon the prairies!
A further examination quite assured him of the truth of this. The
footprints of one of the dogs differed from the rest; and although a
large one, it was not the track of the common wolf-dog of the country.
He had heard that the yellow hunter had lately become possessed of a
large bloodhound. These must be _his_ tracks!
Carlos rode along the trail to a point where it had crossed an old path
of his own leading to the ravine. To his astonishment he perceived
that, from this point, one of the horsemen, with several of the dogs,
had turned off and followed his own tracks in that direction! No doubt
the man had been trailing him. After going some distance, however, the
latter had turned again and ridden back upon his former course.
Carlos would have traced this party farther, as he knew they must have
passed on the evening before. But as it was now quite day, and their
trail evidently led to the settlements, he dared not ride in that
direction, and therefore returned to his hiding-place.
The incident had rendered him thoughtful and apprehensive throughout the
whole of that day; and as he rode forth his reflections were upon this
very subject--hence the caution of his movements.
As he emerged from the ravine, the dog, as stated, made a demonstration,
by suddenly turning toward the rocks, and uttering a low growl. This
caused Carlos to halt, and look carefully in that direction. But he
could see nothing that appeared suspicious; and the dog, after a
moment's pause, appeared satisfied and trotted on again.
"Some wild animal, perhaps," thought Carlos, as he set his horse in
motion, and continued on over the plain.
When fairly out into the open ground, he quickened his pace; and after a
ride of about six or seven miles arrived on the banks of the Pecos.
Here he turned down-stream, and, once more riding with caution,
approached a grove of low timber that grew upon the bank. This grove
was the point of rendezvous.
When within a hundred yards of it, the cibolero halted upon the plain.
The dog ran on before him, quartered the grove, and then returned to his
master. The horseman then rode boldly in under the shadow of the trees,
and, dismounting, took station upon one side of the timber, to watch for
the coming of his expected messenger.
His vigil was not of long duration. In a few minutes a man on foot,
bent into a crouching attitude, was seen rapidly advancing over the
plain. When he had arrived within three hundred yards of the grove, he
stopped in his tracks, and uttered a low whistle. To this signal the
cibolero replied, and the man, again advancing as before, was soon
within the shadow of the grove. It was Antonio.
"Were you followed, amigo?" asked Carlos.
"As usual, master; but I had no difficulty in throwing them off."
"Hereafter it may not be so easy."
"How, master?"
"I know your news--the yellow hunter has got back?"
"Carrambo! it is even so! How did you hear it, master?"
"This morning, after you had left me, I crossed a trail--I knew it must
be theirs."
"It was theirs, master. They came in last evening but I have worse news
than that."
"Worse!--what?"
"They're after _you_!"
"Ha! already? I guessed that they would be, but not so soon. How know
you, Anton!"
"Josefa--she has a brother who is a kind of errand-boy to Padre Joaquin.
This morning the Padre took him over to the Presidio, and from there
sent him to guide Captain Roblado to the yellow hunter's hut. The Padre
threatened the boy if he should tell any one; but on his return to the
mission he called on his mother; and Josefa, suspecting he had been on
some strange errand--for he showed a piece of silver--got it all out of
him. He couldn't tell what Roblado and the hunters talked about, but he
fancied the latter were preparing to go somewhere as he left them. Now,
putting one thing with another, I'm of the mind, master, they're on your
trail."
"No doubt of it, amigo--I haven't the slightest doubt of it. So--I'll
be chased out of my cave--that's certain. I believe they have a
suspicion of where I am already. Well, I must try to find another
resting-place. 'Tis well I have got the wind of these rascals--they'll
not catch me asleep, which no doubt they flatter themselves they're
going to do. What other news?"
"Nothing particular. Josefa saw the girl Vicenza last night in company
with Jose, but she has had no opportunity of getting a word with the
senorita, who is watched closely. She has some business with the
portero's wife to-morrow. She hopes to hear something from her."
"Good Antonio," said Carlos, dropping a piece of money into the other's
hand, "give this to Josefa--tell her to be active. Our hopes rest
entirely with her."
"Don't fear, master!" replied the half-blood. "Josefa will do her best,
for the reason that," smiling, "_her_ hopes, I believe, rest entirely
upon _me_."
Carlos laughed at the _naive_ remark of his faithful companion, and then
proceeded to inquire about other matters,--about his mother and sister,
about the troopers, the spies, and Don Juan.
About the last Antonio could give him no information that was new. Don
Juan had been arrested the day after the affair at the Presidio, and
ever since had been kept a close prisoner. The charge against him was
his having been an accomplice of Carlos, and his trial would take place
whenever the latter should be captured.
Half-an-hour was spent in conversation, and then Carlos, having received
from the half-blood the packages containing provisions, prepared to
return to his hiding-place in the Llano Estacado.
"You will meet me here to-morrow night again, Anton," said he at
parting. "If anything should happen to prevent me coming, then look for
me the night after, and the night after that. So _buenas noches,
amigo_!"
"_Buenos noches, mi amo_!" ("Good night, master!")
And with this salutation the friends--for they were go--turned their
backs on each other and parted.
Antonio went crouching back in the direction of the valley; while the
cibolero, springing to his saddle, rode off toward the frowning bluffs
of the Llano.