u wish to capture him alone,
and get the five hundred dollars to yourself?"

"Colonel Tres-Villas?" cried Zapote and the messenger in the same
breath.

"Five hundred dollars reward!" exclaimed Zapote the instant after,
raising his hand to his head, as if about to pluck out a fistful of his
hair.

"Certainly, that same; a grand gentleman, with black moustachios, a felt
hat of the same colour, a soldier's infantry jacket, and gold-laced
cavalry pantaloons."

"And he has killed two of our people?"

"Four. Since Suarez and Pacheco have not returned, we may also reckon
them as dead men."

Zapote no longer doubted that the man from whom they had just parted was
he to whom they were bearing the message of Gertrudis de Silva, in other
words, the Colonel Tres-Villas. He exchanged a significant glance with
the messenger.

For a moment the new resolution of honesty made by the ex-bandit wavered
upon its foundation, still but weakly laid; but the mute appealing
glance of Gaspar, and the remembrance of the promise of fidelity he had
just made, conquered the instinct of cupidity that had momentarily been
aroused within him.

"Well--we have neither met nor seen any one," he remarked drily; "but we
are losing our time. _Adios_!"

"_Vete con Dios_!" (God be with you), responded Perico.

Zapote and Gaspar, saluting the others, walked away--going at a moderate
pace so long as they were in sight of the insurgents; but as soon as
they were behind the bushes advancing with all the speed in their power.

Their object now was to put themselves as distant as possible from the
danger; since their projected journey to Huajapam was no more to be
thought of. When they had got to such a distance as not any longer to
fear pursuit, Zapote flung himself down upon the grass with an air of
profound disappointment.

"What are we to do now?" inquired Gaspar, in a lugubrious tone.

Zapote, overcome by his emotions, made no reply. About a minute after,
however, he sprang suddenly to his feet, as if some interesting idea had
occurred to him.

"A grand idea!" he exclaimed, "a superb idea!"

"Ah! What is it?"

"Listen, _camarado_! I am known to those who are laying siege to the
hacienda Del Valle: you are known to those who defend it. Well, we
shall thus be able to get in. Once inside, you can pass me off for one
of the servants of your master, Don Mariano de Silva."

"That might be possible, my dear Zapote," naively answered Ga