this favour to
an humble individual like myself. I know not how to thank you."

"No thanks--no thanks: an officer of his Catholic Majesty wants no
thanks for doing his duty."

As the Comandante said this, he waved his hand with proud dignity, and
seemed about to retire backward. Carlos interrupted his intention by
putting a question: "Am I to have the honour of acting as guide to your
excellency?"

"No; I do not go myself on this expedition; but my best officer, Captain
Roblado, will lead it. He is now getting ready. You may wait for him."

As Vizcarra said this, he turned abruptly away from the wall, and
continued his promenade along the azotea. No doubt he felt ill at ease
in a _tete-a-tete_ with the cibolero, and was glad to end it. Why he
had condescended to give all this information need not be inquired into;
but it was just what the cibolero desired to know.

The latter saw that the time was come--not a moment was to be lost, and,
quick as thought, he resolved himself for action.

Up to this moment he had remained in his saddle. His rifle--its butt
resting in the stirrup, its barrel extending up to his shoulder--had
been seen by no one. The "_armas de aqua_" covering his legs, and the
serape his shoulders, had completely concealed it. In addition to this,
his sharp hunting-knife, strapped along his left thigh, escaped
observation under the hanging corner of the serape. These were his only
weapons.

During the short conversation between the Comandante and Roblado he had
not been idle, though apparently so. He had made a full reconnaissance
of the walls. He saw that out of the saguan, or gateway, an escalera of
stone steps led up to the azotea. This communication was intended for
the soldiers, when any duty required them to mount to the roof; but
Carlos knew that there was another escalera, by which the officers
ascended: and although he had never been inside the Presidio, he rightly
conjectured that this was at the adjacent end of the building. He had
observed, too, that but one sentry was posted at the gate, and that the
stone banquette, inside the saguan, used as a lounging-place by the
guard, was at the moment unoccupied. The guard were either inside the
house, or had strayed away to their quarters. In fact, the discipline
of the place was of the loosest kind. Vizcarra, though a dandy himself,
was no martinet with his men. His time was too much taken up with his
own pleasures to allow h