. Come on
quickly. Moments are days. My brain's on fire. Come on!"

So saying, the cibolero leaped into his saddle and struck rapidly down
the precipitous path that led to the valley.

From the point where the road touched the valley bottom, for more than a
mile in the direction of the Presidio, it ran through a thick growth of
low trees and bushes forming a "chapparal," difficult to pass through,
except by following the road itself.

But there were several cattle-paths through the thicket, by which it
might be traversed; and these were known to Antonio the half-blood, who
had formerly lived in this neighbourhood. By one of those a party of
mounted men might approach within half-a-mile of the Presidio without
attracting the observation of the sentries upon the walls. To this
point, then, Antonio was directed to guide the party; and in due time
they arrived near the edge of the jungle, where, at the command of
Carlos, all dismounted keeping themselves and their horses under cover
of the bushes.

"Now," said the cibolero, speaking to Don Juan, "remain here. If I
escape, I shall gallop direct to this point. If I lose my horse, you
shall see me afoot all the same. For such a short stretch I can run
like a deer: I shall not be overtaken. When I return I shall tell you
how to act.

"See! Don Juan!" he continued, grasping the ranchero by the arm, and
drawing him forward to the edge of the chapparal. "It is he! by Heaven,
it is he!"

Carlos pointed to the azotea of the Presidio, where the head and
shoulders of a man were seen above the line of the parapet.

"It is the Comandante himself!" said Don Juan, also recognising him.

"Enough! I have no time for more talk," cried the cibolero. "Now or
never! If I return, you shall know what to do. If not, I am taken or
killed. But stay here. Stay till late in the night; I may still
escape. Their prisons are not too strong; besides, I carry this gold.
It may help me. No more. Adios! true friend, adios!"

With a grasp of the ranchero's hand, Carlos leaped back to his saddle,
and rode off.

He did not go in the direction of the Presidio, as that would have
discovered him too soon. But a path that led through the chapparal
would bring him out on the main road that ran up to the front gate, and
this path he took. Antonio guided him to the edge of the timber, and
then returned to the rest.

Carlos, once on the road, spurred his horse into gallop, and dashe