ident from the hints he let drop to-night. We may get this fellow out
of the way without much scandal, if the Church will only interfere. The
padres can expel him at once from the settlement if they can only
satisfy themselves that he is a `heretico.' Is it not so?"

"It is," coldly replied Vizcarra, sipping his wine; "but to expel _him_,
my dear Roblado, _some one else_ might be also driven off. The rose
would be plucked along with the thorn. You understand?"

"Perfectly."

"That, then, of course, I don't wish--at least not for the present.
After some time we may be satisfied to part with rose, thorn, bush,
roots, and all. Ha! ha! ha!"

"By the way, colonel," asked the captain, "have you made any progress
yet?--have _you_ been to the house?"

"No, my dear fellow; I have not had time. It's some distance, remember.
Besides, I intend to defer my visit until this fellow is out of the
way. It will be more convenient to carry on my courtship in his
absence."

"Out of the way! what do you mean?"

"That the cibolero will shortly start for the Plains--to be gone,
perhaps, for several months, cutting up buffalo-beef, tricking the
Indians, and such-like employments."

"Ho! that's not so bad."

"So you see, querido camarado, there's no need for violence in the
matter. Have patience--time enough for everything. Before my bold
buffalo-hunter gets back, both our little affairs will be settled, I
trust. You shall be the owner of rich mines, and I--"

A slight knock at the door, and the voice of Sergeant Gomez was heard,
asking to see the Comandante.

"Come in, sergeant!" shouted the colonel. The brutal-looking trooper
walked into the room, and, from his appearance, it was plain he had just
dismounted from a ride.

"Well, sergeant?" said Vizcarra, as the man drew near; "speak out!
Captain Roblado may know what you have to say."

"The party, colonel, lives in the very last house down the valley,--full
ten miles from here. There are but the three, mother, sister, and
brother--the same you saw at the fiesta. There are three or four Tagno
servants, who help the man in his business. He owns a few mules, oxen,
and carts, that's all. These he makes use of in his expeditions, upon
one of which he is about to start in three or four days at the furthest.
It is to be a long one, I heard, as he is to take a new route over the
Llano Estacado."

"Over the Llano Estacado?"

"Such, I was told, was his intention."