incline, almost a cliff.
But on reaching its crest they came in sight of the man who had
challenged, standing on a ledge of rock. A strange-looking figure he
seemed to Kearney and the Texan, wearing a long loose robe, girded at
the waist--the garb of a monk, if the dim light was not deceiving them;
yet with the air of a soldier, and sentinel-fashion, carrying a gun!

He was at "present arms" when they got up opposite; and wondering, but
without saying aught, they passed him--their conductor, after a
momentary pause and a muttered word to him, leading on as before.

Another ascent, this time short, but still almost precipitous, and this
climbing came to an end.

CHAPTER FORTY.

A FAITHFUL STEWARD.

The spot where they had now made stop--final for the night--was still
far below the summit of the mountain. It was a sort of platform or
bench, formed by the crest of a projecting spur, the cliff rising sheer
at its back. Its level surface was only a few acres in extent,
supporting a thick growth of tall evergreen pines, the long-leaved
species indigenous to Mexico. Centrally there was a place clear of
timber, which ran up to the cliff's base, or rather to a building
contiguous to it. In front of this they halted, Rivas saying--

"Behold my humble abode, _caballeros_! Let me bid you welcome to it."

There was light enough to let them see a massive pile of mason work
outlined against the cliff's _facade_, while too dim for them to
distinguish its features. They could make out, however, what appeared
to be a pair of windows with pointed arches, and between them a large
doorway, seeming more like the mouth of a cavern. Out of this came a
faint scintillation of light, and as they drew up to it, a candle could
be seen burning inside a sort of covered porch, resembling the lych-gate
of a country church. There were some stone benches outside, from one of
which a man started up and advanced toward them, as he did so putting
the formal question--

"_Quien es_?"

"_Yo, Gregorio_!" was the answer given by Rivas.

"_El Capitan_!" exclaimed the questioner, in a tone also telling of
pleased surprise. "And free again! I'm so glad, Don Ruperto! Praise
to the Lord for delivering you!"

"Thanks, good Gregorio! And while you're about it, you may as well give
part of your praise to a lady, who had something to do with it--indeed,
two of them."

"Ah! Senor Capitan, I think I know one of them anyhow, and in all
Me