e wondering troop--Don Juan among the rest--set their animals in
motion, and galloped after.

There was no halt made at the ford. Carlos dashed his horse through the
water, and the rest imitated his example. There was no halt either on
arriving at the trace that led northward. The dog scampered along it,
yelping at intervals; and the troop kept close after his heels.

They had not followed it quite a mile when it suddenly turned at right
angles, and _took the direction of the town_!

Don Juan and the rest expressed surprise, but there was nothing in all
this to surprise the cibolero. _He_ was expecting that. The expression
on his face was not that of astonishment. It was far different--far
more terrible to behold!

His eyes were sunk in their sockets and gleaming with a lurid light, as
if fire was burning within them. His teeth were firmly set--his lips
white and tightly drawn, as if he was meditating, or had already made,
some desperate resolve. He scarce looked at the tracks, he needed their
guidance no longer. _He knew there he was going_!

The trail crossed a muddy arroyo. The dog sweltered through, and the
red clay adhered to his shaggy coat. It corresponded with that with
which he had been already besmeared!

Don Juan noticed the circumstance, and pointed it out.

"He has been here before!" said he.

"I know it," replied Carlos; "I know it all--all. There is no mystery
now. Patience, amigo! You shall know all, but now let me _think_. I
have no time for aught else."

The trail still led in the direction of the town. It did not re-enter
the valley, but passed over a sloping country to the upper plain, and
then ran nearly parallel with the bluffs.

"Master!" said Antonio, riding up by the side of Carlos, "these are not
the tracks of Indian horses, unless they have stolen them. Two of them
are _troop_ horses. I know the _berradura_ well. They are _officers'
horses_, too--I can tell that from the shoeing."

The cibolero showed no signs of being astonished by this information,
nor made he reply. He seemed engrossed with his thoughts.

Antonio, thinking he had not been heard or understood, repeated what he
had said.

"Good Antonio!" said the cibolero, turning his eyes on his follower, "do
you think me blind or stupid?"

This was not said angrily. Antonio understood its meaning, and fell
back among his companions.

On moved the trackers--now at a gallop, now more slowly, for their
a