already bleached white.
The wolves, vultures, and bears, had prepared them for that.

The man-hunters at length reached their destination; and, having led
their horses in among the loose boulders, fastened them securely. They
then crept up through crevices in the rocks, until they had reached the
crest of the ridge. From this point they commanded a view of the whole
mouth of the land-bay, about three hundred yards in width, so that no
object, such as a man or horse, could pass out or in without their
observing it--unless the night should chance to be very dark indeed.
But they expected moonlight, by the help of which not even a cat could
enter the ravine without their seeing it.

Having found a spot to their liking, they lay down, with their bodies
concealed from any one who might be passing on the plain below either in
front of or behind them. Their horses were already hidden among the
large masses of rock.

To the minds of both their purposed plan of action was clearly
understood. They had their reasons for believing that the cibolero,
during his period of outlawry, was dwelling in a cave that opened into
this ravine, and which was well-known to the mulatto; that Carlos came
out in the night, and approached the settlements--the place was but ten
miles from his own rancho--and that he was met somewhere by Antonio, who
gave him information of what was going on, bringing him provisions at
the same time.

It was their intention to wait until Carlos should pass out, then occupy
the cave themselves, and attack him on his return. True they might have
waylaid him on his going forth, but that might result in a failure.
Catch him they could not while mounted. They might have crept near
enough to get a shot at him, but, as the mulatto had said, that would
have risked their losing him altogether.

Moreover, neither wanted to take only his scalp. The mulatto in
particular had resolved on earning the double price by _taking him
alive_. Even though it cost them some additional risk, his capture
would doubly reward them, and for money these desperadoes were ready to
venture anything. Withal, they were not so daring as to have cared for
an open encounter. They knew something of the mettle of "el guero," but
they trusted to the advantage they should obtain over him by stratagem.
On starting out they had resolved to follow him up, and steal upon him
when asleep--and the plan which they had now formed had been the result