scarcely necessary to say that the two men, who had thus passed so
near, were the messengers so often disappointed, Gaspar and Juan el
Zapote. As already known, they had been to the hacienda San Carlos,
where they had learnt the direction taken by Don Rafael on leaving it.
They had followed his tracks, which to Juan el Zapote, a skilled
_rastreador_, was easy enough--especially in such a moonlight. They had
even recognised Don Mariano and his party, on coming near the spot where
the haciendado had halted; and for a moment Gaspar hesitated about going
up to the group and reporting himself to his master, as he ought to have
done.

From the performance of his duty he was dissuaded by his astute
associate, who represented to him, that, in case of his reporting
himself, Don Mariano might countermand the message he had sent to the
Colonel, now that the latter was known to be on the ground. He might
prefer delivering the precious talisman in _propria persona_, and then
where would be the bounty they had long expected, and for which they had
more than once risked their necks?

These arguments prevailed even with the honest Gaspar; and to such an
extent, that from this very motive he had declined to answer the
speeches of Zapote, lest his voice might be recognised by Don Mariano,
or some of his fellow-servants! Cautiously did the two make a detour
through the trees, and so rapidly, that no one was likely to be able to
intercept them, before they could reach the place to which the voice of
the Colonel was guiding them.

As soon as the men had passed out of hearing, Costal and Clara, who saw
that Don Mariano showed no sign of following their advice, exchanged
glances of vexatious disappointment. The haciendado still kept his
ground; and with his ear catching every sound, was vainly endeavouring
to obtain a solution to the painful uncertainty that surrounded him.

The moon, about to sink behind the summit of the enchanted hill, cast
oblique rays along the level shore of the lake. There he could make out
a confused group of men and horses, some of the former dismounted and
flinging long shadows over the plain. What was passing in the middle of
this group? Some terrible scene, no doubt, was there being enacted--to
judge from the hurried movements of the men, and the angry intonation of
their voices.

At that moment a frightful cry rose upon the air, and, borne upon the
still breeze, was distinctly heard by Don Mariano an