I never found use for one."

"No!--you in your fine style have deemed that a superfluity; but you
might find use for one now. A very advantageous character that, I
assure you--saves much time and trouble--diminishes the chances of
failure too. It's not too late. I advise you to try one. If that
fails, you have still another string to your bow."

We shall not follow the conversation of these ruffians further. Enough
to say that it led into details of their atrocious plans, which, for
more than an hour, they sat concocting over their wine, until the whole
scheme was set forth and placed in readiness to be carried out.

It _was_ carried out, in fine, but led to a different ending from what
either anticipated. The "lady" who acted as "alcahuete" soon placed
herself _en rapport_ with Rosita; but her success was more equivocal
than that of Vizcarra himself; in fact, I should rather say unequivocal,
for there was no ambiguity about it.

As soon as her designs were made known to Rosita, the latter
communicated them to her mother; and the scratches which the Comandante
had received were nothing to those which had fallen to the lot of his
proxy. The "alcahuete" had, in fact, to beg for her life before she was
allowed to escape from the terrible Cibolo.

She would have sought legal revenge, but that the nature of her business
made it wiser for her to pocket the indignities, and remain silent.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

"Now, Roblado," asked the Comandante, "what is the other string to my
bow?"

"Can't you guess, my dear colonel?"

"Not exactly," replied Vizcarra, though he well knew that he could. It
was not long since the other string had been before his mind. He had
even thought of it upon the day of his first defeat, and while his anger
was hot and revengeful. And since then, too--often, often. His
question was quite superfluous, for he well knew Roblado's answer would
be "force."

It _was_ "force." That was the very word. "How?"

"Take a few of your people, go by night, and carry her off. What can be
more simple? It would have been the proper way at first, with such a
prude as she! Don't fear the result. It's not so terrible to them.
I've known it tried before. Long ere the cibolero can return, she'll be
perfectly reconciled, I warrant you."

"And if not?"

"If not, what have you to fear?"

"The talk, Roblado--the talk."

"Bah! my dear colonel, you are timid in the matter. You have mismana