nd. My eyes were fixed on the figure wrapped in the black
cloak and lying across the saddle-bow of one of the ruffians.

As far as I could see, she was perfectly inanimate, but one thing I
noticed, and that was the man who held her, a great, swarthy,
black-bearded wretch, masked like the others, rode some six paces in
rear of the rest.

This was sufficient for me; my plan was formed at once.

As we rode forward again, I felt that I had a good horse under me, and
this was a satisfaction for the task I had in view. As we reached the
wood at the foot of the hill, there were, I found to my great
satisfaction, but two of the gang riding behind me and one by my side;
the rest were in front. I had made myself agreeable, and rode so
easily with them that the men around me had taken no special
precautions to secure me; believing me to be unarmed, they evidently
thought that I was powerless under the muzzles of their numerous
revolvers.

They were mistaken.

As we plunged into the blackness of the road through the wood, I waited
until we were well into it, then drew my revolver and shot the man
riding on my right.

In the very act of firing, I dug the heels of my boots into my horse
and caused him to swerve round.

Before they could draw, I shot both the men behind me, and as I tore
past them, grasped the mask from the face of one as he fell. The whole
thing was done in under ten seconds. I flew off like an arrow back
towards the party we had just left, followed by a spattering fire from
the men. I had left when they fully realised what had happened in the
darkness.

I hastily fixed the black crape mask across my face as I cleared the
wood, and made full gallop for Dolores.

As I came in sight of the party, they were evidently in alarm at the
shooting, but I waved my arm to them assuringly and slowed down to a
canter as I came near. They plainly regarded me from my mask as one of
the gang.

I noticed to my satisfaction as I approached that the man in charge of
Dolores was still some distance in the rear.

The road being narrow, and the men riding two abreast in it, I left the
track and rode out into the rough ground as if I wished to reach the
chief, crying out "Capitano!" as I passed the leading men, that being
about all the Spanish I knew.

The great burly chief rode out as I approached, with a querulous look
on his face as I saw it in the moonlight, as if he were annoyed, but
the expression changed imme