, for
the soldiers, at the instant of his call and the answering cries of the
Indians, would have shot him dead--but to kill the soldiers. The Indians
were too far distant for this. How the soldiers had escaped the savages
was a mystery. They must have been at his hut soon after his leaving it
that morning, and kept watch for the return of its inmate, thinking it
might be Pomponio himself, or some one who would lead to the discovery
of his whereabouts. Only in this way could they have missed the Indians
roaming in the forest that day, as they made their preparations for the
eventful morrow.

"Now, my man, off to the presidio," said the leader, after they had
finished binding Pomponio's arms securely. "We have no time to lose;
the sun is low in the west, and will be set long before we get there. So
step lively all."

The soldiers picked up their muskets, and started off quickly in the
direction of the mission, Pomponio guarded by a man on each side,
grasping his pinioned arms. Alas! Was this the end of his long, long
planning; was this the outcome of the insurrection which was to have
been the prelude to a glorious victory, that he should have been caught
through his own carelessness and carried off ignominiously to prison?
Pomponio could have sacrificed his life gladly for the cause he had so
much at heart; but to be captured before the blow for liberty had been
struck was unbearable. He had been the prime mover in planning the
revolt, and well he knew his capture sounded the knell, for no one could
take his place successfully as leader.

The soldiers hurried their prisoner forward almost on the run, partly
because it was so late, and they had a long walk before them, partly
from fear of encountering some of the savages they knew were in the
forest. However, they were not molested, and reached the mission, lying
on their way, as the last bit of sunset color faded away on the horizon.
They delayed only long enough to relate the circumstance of the capture,
and to get two of the soldiers, acting as guard at the mission, to
accompany them to the presidio. Pomponio did not see the Father, who was
engaged with the sick in the hospital, and he was glad. After a stop, of
a few minutes, they again took up their march, and reached the presidio
a little later. Here the commandant of the garrison, after having heard
the tale of the leader, and taken a look at Pomponio, ordered him to be
chained to the wall in a room of the pris