of the follower of Arroyo.

"To know if you have seen anything of that rascal, Juan de Zapote, and
his worthy companion, Gaspar?"

"We have seen neither Zapote nor Gaspar."

"If they're not found, then, my friend Perico--who met and permitted
them to pass him--is likely to spend a most uncomfortable quarter of an
hour--when he appears in the presence of our Captain Arroyo."

"Ah! you are in Arroyo's service then?"

"I have the honour."

"Perhaps you can tell me where I shall be most likely to find him?"

"_Quien sabe_? By the ford of the Ostuta you may find him--if he's not
gone elsewhere--to the hacienda of San Carlos, for example."

"This hacienda does not belong to the royalists then?" inquired the
Captain.

"Perhaps I may be mistaken," ironically answered Gaspacho. "In any
case, if you wish to see the Captain--which rather astonishes me--you
will have to cross the ford all the same; and there you may hear of his
whereabouts. My faith! that is a splendid cloak you have got on your
shoulders. It appears a mile too big for you; and looks as if it would
just fit a man of my dimensions."

On saying these words, the bandit put spurs to his horse and galloped
off--leaving Don Cornelio with an unpleasant impression upon his mind,
caused by his ambiguous speeches and the admiration the stranger had
expressed for his cloak.

"I fear we have fallen among wicked people here," said he, addressing
himself to Costal. "You see how little this ragged fellow makes of an
officer of Morelos; and doubtless his master will make still less.
Well--we must be prudent, and wait until night before we attempt to go
forward among them."

"Prudence is not always a bad substitute for courage," remarked Costal,
with a shrug. "We shall do as you desire, Senor Captain; and I shall be
careful we do not fall either into the hands of the loyalists, or those
of the followers of Arroyo, before arriving in the presence of that
gentleman himself. Otherwise, I might lose the one peculiar day of my
life, that I have so long looked forward to. Trust to me. I think you
can say that I never let you remain long in a dangerous situation?"

"You are my providence," cried the Captain, with friendly warmth. "It
is true; and it will always give me pleasure to acknowledge it."

"No, no," interrupted Costal, "what I may have done for you is not worth
talking about. Meanwhile, we will act wisely to take a wink of sleep--
Clara and myself more