the strictest kind, and their disobedience threatened
with severe punishment.

The reasons for all this were quite simple. Both Vizcarra and Roblado
believed, or suspected, that Carlos might leave the settlement
altogether--why should he not?--and take both mother and sister along
with him. Indeed, why should he not? The place could be no more a home
to him, and he would easily find another beyond the Great Plains. No
time could ever release him from the ban that hung over him. He could
never pay the forfeit of his life--but by that life. It was, therefore,
perfectly natural in the two officers to suspect him of the intention of
moving elsewhere.

But, reasoned they, so long as we hold the mother and sister as
hostages, he will not leave them. He will still continue to lurk around
the settlement, and, if not now, some time shall the fox be caught and
destroyed.

So reasoned the Comandante and his captain, and hence the strictness of
their orders about guarding the rancho. Its inmates were really
prisoners, though--as Vizcarra and Roblado supposed--they were ignorant
of the fact.

Notwithstanding all their ingenious plans--notwithstanding all their
spies, and scouts, and soldiers--notwithstanding their promises of
reward and threats of punishment--day followed day, and still the outlaw
remained at large.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

For a long time Carlos had neither been seen nor heard of except through
reports that on being examined turned out to be false. Both the
Comandante and his _confrere_ began to grow uneasy. They began to fear
he had in reality left the settlement and gone elsewhere to live, and
this they dreaded above all things. Both had a reason for wishing him
thus out of the place, and until late occurrences nothing would have
pleased them better. But their feelings had undergone a change, and
neither the intended seducer nor the fortune-hunter desired that things
should end just in that way. The passion of revenge had almost
destroyed the ruffian love of the one, and the avarice of the other.
The very sympathy which both received on account of their misfortunes
whetted this passion to a continued keenness. There was no danger of
its dying within the breast of either. The looking-glass alone would
keep it alive in Vizcarra's bosom for the rest of his life.

They were together on the azotea of the Presidio, talking the matter
between them, and casting over the probabilities of their lat