r Captain. I assure you they
did not let him go without a struggle, which ended in one of them
getting his shoulder fractured by a pistol-shot, and the other having
his horse fall under him. Pressed by the latter, the Royalist horseman
turned upon him, and rushing against his horse, brought the animal to
the ground. Then grasping the vidette by the collar, he lifted him
clean out of his stirrups, and dashed him to the earth, as one would do
a cocoa-nut to break its shell. It was full two hours before the poor
fellow came to his senses."

"I know only one man strong enough to accomplish that feat," said
Bocardo, turning pale--"the damned Colonel Tres-Villas. It was just in
that way that he killed Antonio Valdez."

"It was Colonel Tres-Villas," added Gaspacho. "Pepe Lobos is sure of
it. He heard the snorting of that strange horse--the same he rode upon
the day he came to Las Palmas. Besides, Pepe recognised his figure, and
the sound of his voice--notwithstanding that it was in the night. Ten
of our men have gone in pursuit of him, and by this he ought to be
taken."

"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the guerillero chief, turning his eyes towards
heaven, "I promise you a wax candle as big as a palm tree, if this man
falls into our hands!"

"As big as a palm tree!" exclaimed Bocardo in astonishment.--"Camarado,
do you mean it?"

"Hush!" said the other in a low voice. "Hold your tongue, Bocardo; it's
only to humbug the Virgin!"

"Well," replied Bocardo, "whether they capture him or not, it don't much
matter. We shall take him all the same. If I understand his history,
and the meaning of the message which this coyote has for him, he can be
lured by it to the farthest corner of the earth."

At this moment the wife of Arroyo re-entered the tent, her face
exhibiting a still stronger expression of fury than before.

"The cage is empty!" cried she, "the bird has flown, and along with it
the guardian left to watch it--the worthless Juan de Zapote!"

"Blood and fire!" vociferated Arroyo, "quick, pursue them! Hola!"
continued he, raising the flap of his tent, "twenty men to horse! Scour
the woods and the river banks. Bring back the two fugitives bound hand
and foot. Above all, bring them back _alive_!"

The order created a brisk movement throughout the camp, where each
seemed to compete with his fellow as to who should be the first to enter
on the pursuit.

"_Jesus Santo_!" muttered Bocardo to himself, "if this C