t, as
the horseman was not going to pass within range of either rifle or
escopeta.

It was plain he was heading down the middle of the canon, keeping
equally distant from the sides, and this course would carry him out into
the open plain two hundred yards from the ambush of the hunters.

So did it, for in a few moments he was opposite the spot where they lay,
and at full that distance from them. A shot from a hunter's rifle would
not have reached him, and the bullet of an escopeta would have been an
uncertain messenger. Neither thought of firing, but lay in perfect
silence, firmly holding their dogs down in the crevice of the rocks, and
by gestures enjoining them to be still.

The horseman advanced, guiding his horse at a slow pace, and evidently
observing caution as he went. While passing, the moon shone full upon
him, and the bright points of his harness and arms were seen sparkling
under her light. His fair complexion, too, could be distinguished
easily, as also his fine erect figure, and the noble outlines of his
horse.

"The guero!" muttered Manuel; "all right, boy Pepe!"

"What's yon ahead?" inquired the zambo.

"Ha! didn't notice that. Dam! a dog! dog, sure."

"It is a dog. _Malraya_!"

"Devil roast that dog!--heard of him before--splendid dog, boy Pepe.
Dam! that dog give us trouble. Lucky, wind t'other way. Safe enough
now. Dam! see!"

At this moment the horseman suddenly stopped, looking suspiciously in
the direction of the rocky spur where they lay. The dog had given some
sign.

"Dam!" again muttered the mulatto; "that dog give us trouble yet--thank
our luck, wind t'other way."

There was not much wind either way, but what there was was in the faces
of the hunters, and blowing from the horseman. Fortunately for them it
was so, also Cibolo would have scented them to a certainty.

Even as things stood, their ambush was near enough discovery. Some
slight noise from that quarter--perhaps the hoof of one of their horses
against the turf--had awakened the dog's suspicions--though nothing had
been heard by his master. Neither was the dog sure--for the next moment
he threw down his head and trotted on. The horseman followed and in a
few minutes both were out of sight.

"Now, boy Pepe, for the cave!"

"_Vamos_!"

Both descended from the ridge, and, mounting their horses, rode through
among the scattered rocks. They entered the ravine, and kept up its
edge until the gradual narrowing