had
entered into a tract of _chapparal_; and while this was being searched
for them, the unharnessed horses were observed rushing to and fro in
frenzied gallop, riderless of course. When caught, it was seen why they
were now excited, one of them having its ear slit, the blood still
dropping from the wound.

The _chapparal_ was quartered in every direction; but he soon came to
the conclusion it was no use searching for them there.

"_Carramba_!" interrupted his listener; "of course not I know the place
well. And if you, Senor Colonel, were as well acquainted with that
_chapparal_, and what lies alongside it, as one of those you were after,
you'd have dropped the search sooner. You needn't tell me more; I can
guess the finish; they got off into the Pedregal."

"So it would seem, your Excellency."

"Seem! So it is, _por cierto_. And looking for them there would be so
much lost time. Around your native city, New Orleans, there are swamps
where the runaway slave manages to hide himself. He'd have a better
chance of concealment here, among rocks, in that same quarter you've
just come from. It's a very labyrinth. But what did you afterwards?
You may as well complete your narrative."

"There is not much more to tell, Sire; for little more could we do. The
darkness came on, as we discovered they had taken to the rocks."

"You did discover that?"

"Yes, your Excellency. We found the place where they had gone up over a
sort of cliff. There were scratches made by their feet, with a branch
broken off one of the cactus plants; some of the sewer mud, too, was on
the rock. But there was no path, and I saw it would be useless carrying
the pursuit any further till we should have the light of morning. I've
taken every precaution, however, to prevent their getting out of the
Pedregal."

"What precautions?"

"By completely enfilading it, Sire. I sent the Lancers round by San
Geromino and Contreras; the Hussars to go in the opposite direction by
San Augustin. They have orders to drop a picket at every path that
leads from it, till they meet on the other side."

"Well, Senor Colonel, your strategy is good. I don't see that you could
have done better under the circumstances. But it's doubtful whether we
shall be able to trap our foxes in the Pedregal. One of them knows its
paths too well to let night or darkness hinder his travelling along
them. He'll be through it before your pickets can get to their
stations