f Dona Jocasta has a
clear memory of that boasting, she may save a life for me."

"So?" said Rotil speculatively. "We seem finding new trails at
Soledad. Whose life?"

"The partner of a chum of mine," stated Kit lightly, as he did some
quick thinking concerning the complications likely to arise if he was
regarded as a possible murderer hiding from the law. "My own hunch is
that Conrad himself did it."

"Have you any idea of a trap for him?"

"N-no, General, unless he was led to believe that I was under guard
here. He might express his sentiments more freely if he thought I
would never get back across the border alive."

"Good enough! This offer from Perez is to go into the keeping of Dona
Jocasta. You've the duty of taking it to her. We have not yet found
that ammunition."

"Well, it did cross the border, and somebody got it."

"He says it was moved to Hermosillo before Juan Gonsalvo, the
overseer, died."

"Was shot, you mean, after it was cached."

"Maybe so, but he offers to trade part of it for his liberty, and
deliver the goods north of Querobabi."

"Yes, General,--into the bodies of your men if you trust him."

Rotil chuckled. "You are not so young as you look, Don Pajarito, and
need no warning. It is the room next the _sala_ where I will have
Perez and Conrad brought. The senora can easily overhear what is said.
It may be she will have the mind to help when she sees that offer he
made."

"It would seem so, yet--women are strange! They go like the padre, to
prayers when a life is at stake."

"Some women, and some priests, boy," said the dark priest. "It may be
that you do not know Dona Jocasta well."

This remark appeared to amuse Rotil, for he smiled grimly and with a
gesture indicated that they were to join Dona Jocasta.

She was rested and refreshed by a good supper. Valencia and Elena, the
cook, had waited upon her and the latter waxed eloquent over the
stupendous changes at Soledad from the time of Dona Jocasta's supper
the previous day. Many of the angry men had been ready to start after
Marto who had cheated them, when a courier rode in with the word that
Don Jose and Senor Conrad were close behind. Then the surprise of all
when Don Jose was captured, and it was seen that Elena had been
cooking these many days, not for simple vaqueros, but for some
soldiers of the revolution by which peace and plenty was to come to
all the land! It was a beautiful dream, and the Deliverer was to make
it