old story of the pot of clay broken
against the pot of iron. But the desert here has no distinctions; and,
by the Virgin of Atocha! I shall prove that before many suns have gone
over my head. Ah! if I only had here a certain alcalde of the name of
Don Ramon Cohecho, and his damned friend, one Senor Cagatinta, I fancy I
should make them pass an uncomfortable quarter of an hour."

"Very well, then," said Bois-Rose, seeing the other had finished his
narrative; "very well. I quite approve of your intentions--let the
journey to Arispe stand over."

"It is an old story," said Pepe, in conclusion; "and if for ten years
you have been teaching me to handle a rifle, after many more spent in
the usage of a carbine in the service of her Catholic majesty, surely I
should be able to manage it now. I think I would scarcely miss an
object as large as him whom you have seen at the head of those horsemen
journeying towards the hacienda."

"Yes--yes," replied the Canadian, with a laugh; "but I remember the
time, Pepe, when you missed many a buffalo twice as big as he.
Nevertheless, I fancy I have made a passable shot of you at last,
although you still persist in mistaking the ear of an otter for his eye,
which always depreciates the value of the skin. Well, you know that I
myself was not brought up on the prairies. I was a sailor for many long
years; and perhaps I should have continued one but for--a sad event--a
melancholy affair--but what good is there in speaking of that which is
no more. Let the past be past! I find the life of the desert something
like that on the ocean--once a man has got used to it he cannot easily
quit it."

"Yes," rejoined Pepe; "the life of the forest and prairie has its
charms, and for my part--"

"Hush!" whispered the Canadian, interrupting the speech of his comrade
and placing himself in an attitude to listen. "I heard a rustle among
the branches. Other ears than mine may be listening to you."

Pepe cast a glance in the direction whence the sounds had been heard.
The dark form of a man was perceived among the trees coming from the
direction of the hacienda.

It was evident that the man was not trying to approach by stealth, for
his form was erect and he made no attempt to conceal himself behind the
branches.

This would have freed the mind of Pepe from all suspicion, but for the
circumstance that the stranger appeared to be coming direct from the
hacienda.

"Who goes there?" he hailed i