that the stomachs of our good abstemious fathers have
lately taken a fancy to buffalo tongue cured in a certain way, which can
only be done when the animal is fresh killed. In order to procure this
delicacy they have sent these hunters to the buffalo range."

"How long have they been gone?--can you tell?"

"Several weeks--long before the return of our cibolero."

"It is possible they may be on the way back. Is it not?"

"I think it quite probable, but I shall ride over to the mission this
very hour and inquire."

"Do so; it would be well if we could secure them. A brace of fellows,
such as you describe these to be, would be worth our whole command.
Lose no time."

"I shall not waste a minute," Roblado replied, and leaning over the wall
he called out, "Hola! Jose! my horse there!"

Shortly after a messenger came up to say that his horse was saddled and
ready. He was about to descend the escalera, when a large
closely-cropped head--with a circular patch about the size of a blister
shaven out of the crown--made its appearance over the stone-work at the
top of the escalera. It was the head of the Padre Joaquin, and the next
moment the owner, bland and smiling, appeared upon the azotea.

CHAPTER FIFTY.

The monk who presented himself was the same who had figured at the
dinner-party. He was the senior of the two that directed the mission,
and in every respect the ruler of the establishment. He was known as
the Padre Joaquin, while his junior was the Padre Jorge. The latter was
a late addition to the post, whereas Padre Joaquin had been its director
almost since the time of its establishment. He was, therefore, an old
resident, and knew the history and character of every settler in the
valley. For some reason or other he held an inveterate dislike to the
family of the cibolero, to which he had given expression upon the
evening of the dinner-party,--although he assigned no cause for his
hostility. It could not have been because he regarded them as
"hereticos," for, though the Padre Joaquin was loud in his denunciations
of all who were outside the pale of the Church, yet in his own heart he
cared but little about such things. His zeal for religion was sheer
hypocrisy and worldly cunning. There was no vice practised in the
settlement in which Padre Joaquin did not take a leading part. An
adroit _monte_ player he was--ready to do a little cheating upon
occasions--a capital judge of game "gallos," ever