fortunate thing that you are a man of means. Say nothing to
your guards, and I will have a talk this very night with two men whom
I can trust, and we will see what can be done for you. Come, senor,
don't despair, for I feel there is some hope," concluded the bandit.

The family of Don Ramon were uneasy but not alarmed by his failure
to return to them the day following his departure. After two days had
passed, during which no word had come from him, his wife sent an old
servant to see if he was still at the ranchita. There the man learned
that his master had not been seen, nor had there been any drovers
there recently. Under the promise of secrecy, the servant was further
informed that, on the very day that Don Ramon had left his home, a
band of robbers had driven into a corral at a ranch in the _monte_ a
remudo of ranch horses, and, asking no one's consent, had proceeded to
change their mounts, leaving their own tired horses. This they did
at noonday, without so much as a hand raised in protest, so terrified
were the people of the ranch.

On the servant's return to Agua Dulce, the alarm and grief of the
family were pitiful, as was their helplessness. When darkness set in
Senora Mora sent a letter by a peon to an old family friend at his
home on the river. The next night three men, for mutual protection,
brought back a reply. From it these plausible deductions were made:--

That Don Ramon had been kidnapped for a ransom; that these bandits no
doubt were desperate men who would let nothing interfere with their
plans; that to notify the authorities and ask for help might end in
his murder; and that if kidnapped for a ransom, overtures for his
redemption would be made in due time. As he was entirely at the mercy
of his captors, they must look for hope only from that source. If
reward was their motive, he was worth more living than dead. This was
the only consolation deduced. The letter concluded by advising them
to meet any overture in strict confidence. As only money would be
acceptable in such a case, the friend pledged all his means in behalf
of Don Ramon should it be needed.

These were anxious days and weary nights for this innocent family. The
father, no doubt, would welcome death itself in preference to the rack
on which he was kept by his captors. Time is not considered valuable
in warm climates, and two weary days were allowed to pass before any
conversation was renewed with Don Ramon.

Then once more the chi