and his five hundred men wound their way down through the cold forest
on the mountain into the soft warm air of the valley. There had been no
rain for three weeks, and the river was not more than half full; and it
was very quiet. They camped on the bank, well away from the scattered
groups of trees, that they might not lose a ray of sunshine; and Roldan
and Adan forgot that they were under constant surveillance. There were
no tents; they slept in the open air, the boys in the centre of a
square of Indians. During the day they caught many fine salmon, and
salted what they did not eat, to sell to the rancheros.

It was on the sixth night that Roldan, who was wakeful, suddenly raised
himself on his elbow and listened intently. Far away, above the murmur
of the river, the audible slumbers of the camp, he heard a low,
precise, monotonous sound. He knew what it meant. For a moment he
hesitated. The chances of escape seemed to grow less daily. It was true
that he was in no danger, that he would eventually be restored to his
parents--but with his adventures cut short. He was fond of his home,
but it was always there, and he was keen for variety: his life had been
very uneventful. On the other hand, if that advancing army conquered
the Indians, might not his and Adan's captivity be far more distasteful
than it was at present? He sprang up and called Anastacio. In a second
that warrior was on his feet and had leaped over his alert sentinels
into the square.

"What is it?" he demanded.

"Listen."

Anastacio threw himself full length and laid his ear to the ground. A
moment later he was erect again. He caught Roldan by one shoulder and
Adan by the other. By this time every Indian in the camp was pressing
about his chief.

"They are not two miles away," said Anastacio. "And the dawn will be
here in an hour. There are ten miles between us and the mountains. I
don't wish to fight in the open without knowing their numbers."

Roldan danced up and down with sudden excitement. "I have a plan," he
cried. "You can trust me. I don't want to go back."

Anastacio bent his keen malevolent eyes close above the young
Spaniard's, then loosened his hold.

"Bueno," he said. "I trust you."

"The straw," said Roldan. "Bring it all here."

Anastacio gave the order, and an immense carreta of straw was trundled
up.

"Now," said Roldan, "gather it into bunches the size of a man's head
and tie each firmly. The tide is running toward the enem