e reigned anew,
Don Estevan began:

"Diaz," said he, "we are close on the end of our expedition: to-morrow,
as I told you, we shall encamp at the foot of those mountains; but in
order that success may crown our efforts, treason must not throw
obstacles in our way. It is on this subject that I wish to consult you
to-night. You have known Cuchillo long, but not so long as I have; and
certainly, not as thoroughly. From his earliest youth he has always
betrayed those to whom he appeared most devoted. I know not which of
all the vices with which he is endowed has the ascendant; but in a word,
the sinister look of his face is but a feeble reflection of the
blackness of his soul. It was he who sold to me the secret of the rich
and mysterious placer to which I am leading you--and of this secret he
had made himself the sole master by murdering the friend who had freely
confided it to him, and who thought to find him a faithful companion in
his dangers.

"I have ever, therefore, kept a watchful eye over him. His
disappearance for the last two days alarmed me, but it might have been
the result of an accident common in these deserts. The attack, however,
from which we have so narrowly escaped has confirmed my suspicions. He
has advanced under our protection, until we have reached the place where
he would, be able to seize a part of these immense treasures. He had
need of auxiliaries in order to murder our sixty men, and the Indians
who have attacked us were but his instruments."

"Indeed," replied Diaz, "his report seemed to me suspicious. But the
simplest method will be to hold a court-martial, interrogate him, and if
he be convicted of treason, let us shoot him at once."

"At the commencement of the attack, I assigned him a post near me, in
order to watch him more easily. I saw him totter and then fall
apparently mortally wounded, and I was glad to be rid of a traitor and a
coward. But I have just turned over and examined all the dead, and
Cuchillo is not amongst them. It is therefore urgent that without loss
of time we should follow him; he cannot be far off. You are accustomed
to this sort of expedition; we must, without delay, set off in pursuit
of him, and execute prompt justice on a villain whose life must pay for
his treachery."

Diaz appeared to reflect for a moment, and then said, "To trace him can
neither be tedious nor difficult. Cuchillo must have gone towards the
Golden Valley--therefore in that d