! the troops have been here! they have just
passed up! But that's no reason why the people are not abroad; and I
don't see even a straggler! Now I could have believed there was an
alarm of Indians had I not seen these tracks; but I know very well that,
were the Apaches on their war-trail, my Comandante and his Whiskerandos
would never have ventured so far from the Presidio--that I know.

"Well, there's something extraordinary! I can't make it out. Perhaps
they're all up to the town at some fiesta. Anton, my boy, you know all
the feast-days! Is this one?"

"No, master."

"And where are all the folks?"

"Can't guess, master! Strange we don't see some!"

"So I was thinking. You don't suppose there have been wild Indians in
the neighbourhood?"

"No, master--_mira_! They're the tracks of the `lanzeros'--only an hour
ago. No Indians where they are!"

As Antonio said this, both his accent and look had an expression which
guided his master to the true meaning of his words, which might
otherwise have been ambiguous. He did not mean that the fact of the
lancers having been on the ground would prevent the Indians from
occupying it, but exactly the reverse. It was, not "lancers no
Indians," but "Indians no lancers," that Antonio meant.

Carlos understood him; and, as this had been his own interpretation of
the tracks, he burst out into a fit of laughter.

Still no travellers appeared, and Carlos did not like it. As yet he had
not thought of any misfortune to those he loved; but the unpeopled road
had an air of loneliness about it, and did not seem to welcome him.

As he passed on a feeling of sadness came stealing over him, which after
it had fairly taken possession he could not get rid of.

He had not yet passed a settlement. There were none before reaching his
own rancho, which, as already stated, was the lowest in the valley.
Still the inhabitants fed their flocks far below that; and it was usual,
at such an hour, to see them driving their cattle home. He neither saw
cattle nor vaqueros.

The meadows on both sides, where cattle used to graze, were empty! What
could it mean?

As he noticed these things an indefinite sense of uneasiness and alarm
began to creep over him; and this feeling increased until he had arrived
at the turning which led to his own rancho.

At length he headed around the forking angle of the road; and having
passed the little coppices of evergreen oaks, came within sight of th