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ng by the darkness, had already detached his carbine from the saddle. In another moment, beyond doubt, he would have carried into execution his demoniac purpose, had it not been for the appearance of a horseman, who was coming at full gallop along the road. Besides the horse which he rode, the horseman led behind him another, saddled and bridled. He was evidently a messenger from Don Estevan. "Ah! is it you, Senor Cuchillo?" he cried out, as he rode up. "The devil!" grumbled the outlaw, at this ill-timed interruption. "Ah! is it you, Senor Benito?" he inquired, suddenly changing his tone. "Yes. Well, have you saved the man? Don Estevan has sent me back to you with a gourd of fresh water, and a horse to bring him on." "He is there," replied Cuchillo, pointing to Tiburcio, who stood at a little distance, "thanks to me he is sound and safe--until I have a chance of being once more alone with him," he muttered, in a tone not intended to be heard. "Well, gentlemen," remarked the servant, "we had better go on--the camping place is not far from here--we can soon reach it." Tiburcio leaped into the empty saddle, and the three galloped silently toward the place where the travellers had halted--the servant thinking only of reaching it as soon as possible, and going to rest--Cuchillo mentally cursing the interruption that had forced him to adjourn his project of vengeance--and Tiburcio vainly endeavouring to drive out of his mind the suspicion which this curious incident had aroused. In this occupation the three rode on for about a quarter of an hour, until the gleam of fires ahead discovered the halting-place of the travellers at La Poza. Soon afterwards their camp itself was reached. CHAPTER FOURTEEN. LA POZA. The place known by the name "La Poza" was the only one, within a circle of many leagues, where at this time of the year water could be found. There was here a natural cistern or well--partly nourished by a spring, and partly by rain from the skies. It was hollowed at the bottom of a little crater-shaped valley, only a few paces in circumference, the sloping side's of which served to conduct to the well the rain-water that fell around. The ridges inclosing the little valley were crowned with trees of thick frondage, which, nourished by the evaporation of the water, appeared green and vigorous, and protected the cistern from the burning rays of the sun. The green grass that grew around, th
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