ross the mountains toward the valley of the Del
Norte. They might have reached the valley without this circumstance, by
a trail well known and often travelled. But it appeared as if this was
just what they wanted to avoid.

One of the men composing this party was he already remarked upon as
having a large beard and whiskers. A second was one of those spoken of
as more slightly furnished with these appendages, while the other two
were beardless.

All four were of deep bronze complexion, and to all appearance
pure-blooded aboriginals. That the two with hirsute sign spoke to one
another in Spanish was no sure evidence of their not being Indians. It
was within the limits of New Mexican territory, where there are many
Indians who converse in Castilian as an ordinary language.

He with the whiskered cheeks--the chief of the quartet, as well as the
tallest of them--had not left behind the share of plunder that had been
allotted to him. It was still in his train, borne on the backs of seven
strong mules, heavily loaded. These formed an _atajo_ or pack-train,
guided and driven by the two beardless men of the party, who seemed to
understand mule driving as thoroughly as if they had been trained to the
calling of the _arriero_; and perhaps so had they been.

The other two took no trouble with the pack-animals, but rode on in
front, conversing _sans souci_, and in a somewhat jocular vein.

The heavily-bearded man was astride a splendid black horse; not a
Mexican mustang, like that of his companions, but a large sinewy animal,
that showed the breed of Kentucky. And so should he--since he was the
same steed Frank Hamersley had been compelled to leave behind in that
rapid rush into the crevice of the cliff.

"This time, Roblez, we've made a pretty fair haul of it," remarked he
who bestrode the black. "What with the silks and laces--to say nothing
of this splendid mount between my legs--I think I may say that our time
has not been thrown away."

"Yours hasn't, anyhow. My share won't be much."

"Come, come, _teniente_! don't talk in that way. You should be
satisfied with a share proportioned to your rank. Besides, you must
remember the man who puts down the stake has the right to draw the
winnings. But for me there would have been no spoils to share. Isn't
it so?"

This truth seeming to produce an impression on Roblez's mind, he made
response in the affirmative.

"Well, I'm glad you acknowledge it," pursued the