for letting go
a captive who could at any time be taken again. He would risk the
chances of his captain's displeasure for such a sum. His captain might
have reasons for not dealing too severely with him. The purse was paid,
and the lady was allowed to go.

She was to close the door, locking it from the inside, as though she had
escaped by flight; and this direction of Jose was followed to the
letter.

As Roblado crossed the bridge he was met by the soldier, who, breathless
and stammering, announced that the fair prisoner had got into the house.
She had slipped from his side and ran off. Had it been an ordinary
captive, he could have fired upon her, but he was unable to overtake her
until she had passed the door, which was closed and locked before he
could get near.

For a moment Roblado hesitated whether to "storm the house." His rage
almost induced him to the act. He reflected, however, that the
proceeding might appear somewhat ridiculous and could not much better
his position; besides, the pain of his wounded arm admonished him to
retire from the field.

He re-crossed the bridge, was helped upon his horse, and, summoning
around him his valiant troop, he rode back to the Presidio--leaving the
roused town to conjecture the cause of the alarm.

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

Next morning the town was full of "novedades." At first it was supposed
there had been an attack of Indians repelled as usual by the troops.
What valiant protectors the people had!

After a while it was rumoured that Carlos the murderer had been
captured, and that was the cause of the firing,--that Captain Roblado
was killed in the affair. Presently Carlos was not taken, but he had
been chased and came very near being taken! Roblado had engaged him
singly, hand to hand, and had wounded him, but in the darkness he had
got off by diving down the river. In the encounter the outlaw had shot
the captain through the arm, which prevented the latter from making him
a prisoner.

This rumour came direct from the Presidio. It was partly true. The
wounding of Carlos by Roblado was an addition to the truth, intended to
give a little _eclat_ to the latter, for it became known afterwards that
the cibolero had escaped without even a scratch.

People wondered why the outlaw should have ventured to approach the
town, knowing as he did that there was a price upon his head. Some very
powerful motive must have drawn him thither. The motive soon beca