ie still with as much patience
as they could assume, and await the course of events.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

IN WHICH OLD FRIENDS AND ENEMIES TURN UP IN QUITE A SURPRISING MANNER,
AND QUASHY'S JOY OVERFLOWS.

They had not to wait long. A few minutes later and old Ignacio returned
with several men, one of whom, from his manner and bearing, appeared to
be a chief among the outlaws.

"Who are you, and who bound you?" asked this chief, with a stern look.

Answering in his best Spanish, Lawrence explained how he fell into the
hands of the savages.

The chief did not speak for a few seconds, but looked inquiringly at
Ignacio.

"It won't do to make more prisoners, you know," said the old hunter,
replying to the look; "we have too many on our hands as it is. The
troops are already on our track, and you may be sure they won't lose
time. Besides, these men are unknown, and won't fetch a ransom."

"What would you advise, then?"

"Cut their throats," suggested Ignacio, coolly.

"You old fool!" returned the outlaw, "what good would that do? Isn't it
clear that these men are the enemies of the savages, and we want such to
join us."

"Ay," returned Ignacio, "but they may be friends of the troops, and you
don't want _such_ to join _us_."

"There's truth in that, old man. Well, we'll just let them lie.
They're safe enough, as they are, not to do either good or evil. As you
say, it is of no use burdening ourselves with prisoners who won't fetch
a ransom. The colonel and his women will fetch a good price, but
these--nothing. I suppose that is why Cruz has ordered Conrad to be
shot before we leave the place."

"Why, I thought," said Ignacio, with a look of surprise, "that Conrad of
the Mountains was an outlaw like yourselves."

"Not he. He's a spy, and he'll meet a spy's doom, if he has not met it
already."

"Come--I'll go and see this Conrad," said Ignacio, "I should like to see
a spy get his deserts."

He turned quickly and hurried away, followed by the outlaw.

"Most awrful!" groaned Quashy, when they were gone.

"Awful indeed, to think that Manuela and her father are in the hands of
such villains!" returned Lawrence.

"An' Sooz'n," said Quashy, with a deeper groan.

"But, massa, what's come ober de ole hunter? He not in arnest, ob
course."

"Of course not," replied Lawrence, "that is our one ray of hope now. He
is only acting a part. He will assuredly help us, and means us to help
_him_, but h