urs; and in his earlier days Don
Ambrosio had esteemed the boy Carlos fit company for the little
Catalina.

What objection, then, could he have to the cibolero--provided the latter
could match him in fortune? "Certainly none," thought Carlos. "If I
can prove to him that I, too, am a `rico,' he will consent to my
marrying Catalina. And why not? The blood in my veins--so says my
mother--is as good as that of any hidalgo. And, if the Wacoes have told
me the truth, one more journey and Carlos the cibolero will be able to
shew as much gold as Don Ambrosio the miner!"

These thoughts had been running in his mind throughout the whole of his
homeward journey. Every day--every hour--did he build his aery castles;
every hour did he buy the silk dress for Rosita--the tea, coffee, and
chocolate for his mother; every hour did he erect the new rancho, buy
the farm, show a fortune in gold-dust, and demand Catalina from her
father! _Chateaux en Espagne_!

Now that he was close to his home, these pleasant visions grew brighter
and seemed nearer; and the countenance of the cibolero was radiant with
joy. What a fearful change was soon to pass over it!

Several times he thought of spurring on in advance, the sooner to enjoy
the luxury of his mother's and sister's welcome; and then he changed his
mind again.

"No," muttered he to himself; "I will stay by the atajo. I will better
enjoy the triumph. We shall all march up in line, and halt in front of
the rancho. They will think I have some stranger with me, to whom
belong the mules! When I announce them as my own they will fancy that I
have turned Indian, and made a _raid_ on the southern provinces, with my
stout retainers. Ha! ha! ha!" And Carlos laughed at the conceit.

"Poor little Rosy!" he continued; "she _shall_ marry Don Juan this time!
I won't withhold my consent any longer? It would be better, too. He's
a bold fellow, and can protect her while I'm off on the plains again:
though one more journey, and I have done with the plains. One more
journey, and I shall change my title from Carlos the cibolero to Senor
Don Carlos R--, Ha! ha! ha!"

Again he laughed at the prospect of becoming a "rico," and being
addressed as "Don Carlos."

"Very odd," thought he, "I don't meet anyone. I don't see a soul upon
the road up or down. Yet it's not late--the sun's above the bluff
still. Where can the people be? And yet the road's covered thick with
fresh horse-tracks! Ha