os. Here was a
grove of timber, which they entered, and, having dismounted, tied their
horses to the trees. These animals, though lately arrived from a long
journey, and now having passed over more than thirty miles at a brisk
rate, showed no symptoms of being done up. Lean though they were, they
possessed the tough wiry strength of their race, and either of them
could have gone another hundred miles without breaking down.

This their masters well knew, else they would have gone upon their
man-hunt with less confidence of success.

"May gallop away on his fine black," remarked the mulatto, as he glanced
at the mustangs. "Soon overhaul him again--won't we, boy Pepe?"

"_Chinga_! we will."

"Brace of hacks tire out racer,--won't they, boy Pepe?"

"_Chingara_! So they will, Man'l."

"Don't want to try that game though--do the job easier; won't we, boy
Pepe?"

"I hope so, Man'l."

"Cibolero in the cave sure--stays there--no better place for him. Won't
be caught sleeping,--troopers never follow him up the pass. Convenient
to valley. Goes back and forward spite of spies. Tracks could lead
nowhere else--sure in the cave, horse and all. When? that the trouble,
boy Pepe."

"_Es verdad_! if we knew when he was in, or when he was out, either."

"Ay, knew that, no difficulty,--set our trap easy enough, boy Pepe."

"He must surely be there in daytime?"

"Just been thinking--goes to the settlements--must be by night, that's
clear--goes there, boy Pepe, maybe not to rancho, somewhere near. Must
go to meet Anton. Not like Anton meet him at cave--guero too sharp for
that--goes out to meet Anton, sure!"

"Might we not track Anton?"

"Might track Anton--no good that--would have to deal with both together.
Besides, don't want kill Anton--no ill-will to Anton--make things worse
if find Anton with him. Never do, boy Pepe--have hands full with guero
himself--plenty do capture him. Must not forget capture--not kill--
leave that to them. No use track Anton--know where t'other keeps. If
didn't know that, then might track Anton."

"Can't we get near the cave in daylight, Man'l? I don't have a good
memory of the place."

"Mile--no nearer--unless he sleep--when sleep? Tell me that, boy Pepe!"

"And suppose he be awake?"

"See us enter the canon, mile off--jump into saddle, pass up to plain
above--maybe three days before find him again--maybe not find at all,
boy Pepe."

"Well, brother Man'l--I have a plan.