as not afraid
even then. He went to sleep with as much unconcern as if he had been
surrounded by a body-guard! This is explained by a knowledge of the
fact that he _had_ his guard--a faithful guard--the dog Cibolo; for
although Cibolo had received some lance-thrusts in his last terrible
encounter, he had escaped without any fatal wound. He was still by the
side of his master. While the latter slept the sagacious animal sat
upon the ledge, and watched the ravine below. The sight of a soldier's
uniform would have raised the hair along Cibolo's back and drawn from
him the warning growl. Even in the darkness no one could have got
within several hundred yards of the cave without attracting the notice
of the dog, who would have given his master time to get off from the
most rapid pursuers.

The cave was a large one, large enough to hold both men and horses.
Water, pure crystal water, dripped from the rocks near its inner end,
and lay collected in a tank, that from its round bowl-like shape seemed
to have been fashioned by the hand of man. But it was not so. Nature
had formed this bowl and filled it with choicest water. Such a
formation is by no means uncommon in that region. Caves containing
similar tanks exist in the Waco and Guadalupe Mountains lying still
farther to the south.

It was just the spot for a hiding-place--a refuge for either robber,
outlaw, or other fugitive; and circumstanced as Carlos was it was the
very dwelling for him. He had long known of its existence, and shared
that knowledge only with hunters like himself and the wild Indians. No
settlers of the valley ever ventured up that dark and dismal ravine.

In his lair Carlos had ample time for reflection, and bitter often were
his reflections. He had information of all that passed. Antonio
managed that. Nightly did he meet Antonio at a point on the Pecos, and
receive from him the "novedades" of the settlement. The cunning mulatto
had guessed correctly. Had Antonio brought his news direct to the cave,
he might have been followed, and the hiding-place of Carlos have been
thus discovered. To prevent that the cibolero nightly went forth to
meet him.

Antonio, in collecting the news of the settlement, found in the young
girl Josefa an able adjutant. Through her he learnt that Catalina de
Cruces was kept under lock and key--that Roblado had only been
wounded, and would recover--that new officers went out with the
scouting-parties--and that