upon the
list! There was even some talk of getting up a volunteer company to
assist the soldiers in the pursuit of the _heretico_ assassin, or rather
to earn the golden price of his capture.

With such a forfeit on his head, it was an enigma how Carlos should be
long alive!

Roblado sat in his quarters busy devising plans for the capture. He had
already sent his trustiest spies to the lower end of the valley, and
these were to hover day and night in the neighbourhood. Any information
of the haunts of the cibolero, or of those with whom he was formerly in
correspondence, was to be immediately brought to him, and would be well
paid for. A watch was placed on the house of the young ranchero, Don
Juan; and though both Vizcarra and Roblado had determined on special
action with regard to him, they agreed upon leaving him undisturbed for
the present, as that might facilitate their plans. The spies who had
been employed were not soldiers, but men of the town and poor rancheros.
A military force appealing below would frustrate their design. That,
however, was kept in readiness, but its continued presence near the
rancho, thought Vizcarra and his captain, would only frighten the bird,
and prevent it from returning to its nest. There was good logic in
this.

Roblado, as stated, was in his quarters, completing his arrangements. A
knock aroused him from the contemplation of some documents. They were
communications from his spies, which had just reached the Presidio,
addressed both to himself and the Comandante. They were concerning the
affair.

"Who is it?" he asked, before giving the privilege to enter.

"I, captain," answered a sharp squeaky voice.

Roblado evidently knew the voice, for he called out--

"Oh! it is you? Come in, then."

The door opened, and a small dark man, of sharp weasel-like aspect,
entered the room. He had a skulking shuffling gait, and,
notwithstanding his soldier's dress, his sabre and his spurs, the man
looked mean. He spoke with a cringing accent, and saluted his officer
with a cringing gesture. He was just the sort of person to be employed
upon some equivocal service, and by such men as Vizcarra and Roblado;
and in that way he had more than once served them. It was the soldier
Jose.

"Well! what have you to say? Have you seen Vicenza?"

"I have, captain. Last night I met her out."

"Any news?"

"I don't know whether it may be news to the captain; but she has told me
that