d to Roblado how she had been
detained, and the latter saw there was not a moment to be lost. The
interview might end before he should be ready, and his prey might still
escape him.

Had Roblado felt more confidence as to time he would now have acted
differently. He would have sent some men by a lower crossing, and let
them approach the bottom of the garden directly from the meadow; he
would, moreover, have spent more time and caution about the "surround."

But he saw he might be too late, should he adopt this surer course. A
quicker one recommended itself, and he at once gave the orders to his
followers. These were divided into two parties of different sizes.
Each was to take a side of the garden, and deploy along the wall, but
the larger party was to drop only a few of its men, while the rest were
to ride hastily over the greater bridge, and gallop round to the bottom
of the garden. Roblado himself was to lead this party, whose duty would
likely be of most importance. As the leader well knew, the garden walls
could not be scaled without a ladder, and the cibolero, if found within
the garden, would attempt to escape by the bridge at the bottom. Lest
he might endeavour to get through the avenue and off by the front of the
house, the girl Vicenza was to conduct Gomez with several men on foot
through the patio, and guide them to the avenue entrance.

The plan was well enough conceived. Roblado knew the ground well. He
had often strolled through that garden, and its walls and approaches
were perfectly familiar to him. Should he be enabled to surround it
before the cibolero could got notice of their approach, he was sure of
his victim. The latter must either be killed or captured.

In five minutes after the arrival of the spy he had communicated the
whole of their duties to the men; and in five minutes more they had
ridden out of the woods, crossed the small tract that separated them
from the house, and were in the act of surrounding the garden! It was
at this moment that the dog Cibolo first uttered his growl of alarm.

"Fly--fly!" cried Catalina as she saw her lover approach. "Oh! do not
think of me! They dare not take my life. I have committed no offence.
Oh, Carlos, leave me! fly! _Madre de Dios_! they come this way!"

As she spoke a number of dark forms were seen entering from the avenue,
and coming down the garden. Their scabbards clanked among the bushes as
they rushed through them. They were s