better, perhaps, ride last."

On this hint I acted; and when the four guerillas saw that I was lagging
behind they redoubled their efforts to overtake me, but whenever they drew
nearer than I liked, I let Pizarro out, thereby keeping their horses,
which were none too fresh, continually on the stretch. The others were too
far in the rear to cause us concern. We had tested the speed of their
horses and knew that we could leave them whenever we liked.

After we had gone thus about a couple of miles Carmen slackened speed so
as to let me come up with him and Gahra.

"We have five minutes to spare," he said. "Shall we stop them?"

I nodded assent, whereupon we checked our horses, and wheeling around,
looked our pursuers in the face. This brought them up short, and I thought
they were going to turn tail, but after a moment's hesitation they lowered
their lances and came on albeit at no great speed, receiving as they did
so a point-blank volley from our pistols, which emptied one of their
saddles. Then we drew our swords and charged, but before we could get to
close quarters the three men sheered off to the right and left, leaving
their wounded comrade to his fate. It did not suit our purpose to follow
them, and we were about to go on, when we noticed that the other
guerillas, who a few minutes previously were riding hotly after us, had
ceased their pursuit, and were looking round in seeming perplexity. The
main body had, moreover, come to a halt, and were closing up and facing
the other way. Something had happened. What could it be?

"Another cloud of dust," said Gahra, pointing to the north-west.

So there was, and moving rapidly. Had our attention been less taken up
with the guerillas this new portent would not so long have escaped us.

"Mejia! I'll wager ten thousand piasters that behind that cloud are Mejia
and his braves," exclaimed Carmen, excitedly. _Hijo de Dios!_ Won't they
make mince-meat of the Spaniard? How I wish I were with them! Shall we go
back Senor Fortescue?"

"If you think--"

"Think! I am sure. I can see the gleam of their spears through the dust.
By all means, let us join them. The Spaniards have too much on their hands
just now to heed us. But I must have a spear."

And with that Carmen slipped from his horse and picked up the lance of the
fallen guerilla.

"Do you prefer a spear to a sword?" I asked, as we rode on.

"I like both, but in a charge on the llanos I prefer a spear decidedly.
Ye