till we find they ain't worthy of being froze to; then we
must gie 'em the slip somehow."

"Ah! if we can," said his fellow-filibuster doubtingly. "But that is
the thing for the far hereafter. The question is, what are we to do
now?"

"No guess'n at all, Cap, as thar's no choosin' atween. We're boun' to
be robbers for a time, or whatsomever else these new 'quaintances o'
ours be themselves. Thet's sure as shootin'."

"True," returned the other musingly. "There seems no help for it. It's
our fate, old comrade, though one, _I_ trust, we shall be able to
control without turning highwaymen. I don't think they are that. I
can't believe it."

"Nor me neyther. One thing, howsomever, thet I hev obsarved air a
leetle queery, an' sort o' in thar favour."

"What thing?"

"Thar not hevin' any weemen among 'em. I war in the kitchen this
mornin' 'fore ye war up, and kedn't see sign o' a petticoat about, the
cookin' bein' all done by men sarvents. Thet, I've heern say, air the
way wi' monks; but not wi' the other sort. What do you make o't, Cap?"

"I hardly know, Cris. Possibly the Mexican brigands, unlike those of
Italy, don't care to encumber themselves with a following of the fair
sex."

"On t'other hand," pursued the Texan, "it seems to contrary their bein'
o' the religious sort, puttin' out sentries as they do. Thar wor that
one we passed last night, and this mornin' I seed two go out wi' guns,
one takin' each side, and soon arter two others comin' in as if they'd
been jest relieved from thar posts. Thar's a path as leads down from
both sides o' the building."

"All very strange, indeed," said Kearney. "But no doubt we shall soon
get explanation of it. By the way," he added, changing tone with the
subject, "where is the dwarf? What have they done with him?"

"That I can't tell eyther, Cap. I haven't seen stime o' the critter
since he war tuk away from us by that head man o' the sarvents, and I
don't wish ever to set eyes on the skunk again. Cris Rock niver was so
tired o' a connexshun as wi' thet same. Wagh!"

"I suppose they've got him shut up somewhere, and intend so keeping
him--no doubt for good reasons. Ah! now we're likely to hear something
about the disposal of ourselves. Yonder comes the man who can tell us!"

This, as the _soi-disant_ Abbot was seen approaching along the path.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

THE ABBOT.

"_Amigo_," said their host, as he rejoined them, speaking to Kear