iard who had arrived in Sonora but two
months before, and who was known by the name, Don Estevan de Arechiza.

No one in Arispe remembered ever to have seen him; and yet he appeared
to have been in the country before this time. His knowledge of its
topography, as well as its affairs and political personages, was so
positive and complete, as to make it evident that Sonora was no stranger
to him; and the plan of his expedition appeared to have been conceived
and arranged beforehand--even previous to his arrival from Europe.

Beyond doubt, Don Estevan was master of considerable resources. He had
his train of paid followers, kept open house, made large bets at the
_monte_ tables, lent money to friends without appearing to care whether
it should ever be returned, and played "grand Seigneur" to perfection.

No one knew from what source he drew the means to carry on such a "war."

Now and then he was known to absent himself from Arispe for a week or
ten days at a time. He was absent on some journey; but no one could
tell to what part of the country these journeys were made--for his
well-trained servants never said a word about the movements of their
master.

Whoever he might be, his courteous manner _a l'Espagnol_, his
generosity, and his fine free table, soon gave him a powerful influence
in the social world of Arispe; and by this influence he was now
organising an expedition, to penetrate to a part of the country which it
was supposed no white man had ever yet visited.

As Don Estevan almost always lost at play, and as he also neglected to
reclaim the sums of money which he so liberally lent to his
acquaintances, it began to be conjectured that he possessed not far from
Arispe some rich _placer_ of gold from which he drew his resources. The
periodical journeys which he made gave colour to this conjecture.

It was also suspected that he knew of some _placer_--still more rich--in
the country into which he was about to lead his expedition. What truth
there was in the suspicion we shall presently see.

It will easily be understood that with such a reputation, Don Estevan
would have very little difficulty in collecting his band of adventurers.
Indeed it was said, that already more than fifty determined men from
all parts of Sonora had assembled at the _Presidio of Tubac_ on the
Indian frontier--the place appointed for the rendezvous of the
expedition. It was further affirmed that in a few days Don Estevan
himself wo