of Arroyo directed upon her husband
a glance of concentrated rage and jealousy.

"I want the woman," muttered Arroyo, "in order that I may draw a good
ransom out of her father."

The young Spaniard, his spirit tortured to a certain degree of
feebleness, in a voice scarce audible, indicated to his persecutors
where lay the secret chamber--the door of which, cunningly set in the
wall, had escaped even the keen eyes of the robbers.

Both Bocardo and Arroyo immediately repaired to the spot. A keg of
dollars, with a large quantity of plate, was found in the chamber, but
the Senora Marianita had disappeared.

On hearing this news, a tremor of joy passed through the lacerated frame
of the young Spaniard. Little cared he for his treasure, so long as his
beloved wife had escaped from the outrages of the brigands. His emotion
caused him to faint anew; and he lay once more senseless at the feet of
his tormentors.

Don Cornelio now remembered the white phantom he had observed gliding
among the trees, and he doubted not that what he had seen was she of
whom they were in search.

Arroyo returned to examine his prisoner, but by this time the whole
nature of Don Cornelio appeared to have become suddenly transformed.
The perfumes of the alcohol, mixed with that of the resin torches, had
mounted to his head; and as he had never in his life even tasted strong
liquors, the effect was that of a partial but instant intoxication. He
appeared to have become animated with a portion of that courage, with
which in the field of battle the flaming eyes of Galeana had more than
once inspired him--while combating under the aegis of the marshal's
death-dealing lance.

"Senor Arroyo!" cried he in a voice whose thundering tones astonished
even himself, "and you who call yourself the Colonel of Colonels! I
command you both to respect the envoy of his Excellency the General
Morelos--myself--who am charged to tell you, that if you continue, by
your sanguinary cruelties, to disgrace the holy cause for which we
fight--not as brigands but as Christians--you will both be _drawn and
quartered_!"

At this unexpected and insulting menace the eyes of Arroyo sparkled with
fury. Upon Bocardo the effect was somewhat different. He trembled and
turned pale at the name of Morelos.

Lantejas, though somewhat alarmed at his own boldness, nevertheless
continued in the same strain.

"Bring here the negro and Indian!" demanded he, "prisoners like myself--