aps leading his horse. They would spring upon
him--dogs and all--and pinion him before he could draw either pistol or
knife! There seemed no chance for him.

For all that there _was_ a chance, as the yellow hunter well knew; and
it was that which caused him at intervals to mutter--

"Dam! fear dog give us trouble, boy Pepe."

To this the zambo's only response was the bitter shibboleth--"_Carajo_!"
showing that both were uneasy about the dog. Long before this time both
had heard of the fame of Cibolo, though neither had a full knowledge of
the perfect training to which that sagacious animal had attained.

They reflected that, should the dog enter the cave first, they would be
discovered by him, and warning given to his master. Should he enter it
before the latter had got near, the chances were that their ambuscade
would prove a failure. On the other hand, should the dog remain in the
rear, all would go right. Even should he approach at the same time with
his master, so that the latter might get near without being alarmed,
there would still be a chance of their rushing out upon and shooting
either horse or rider.

Thus reasoned these two treacherous ruffians in the interim of the
cibolero's absence.

They had not yet seated themselves in the positions they designed to
take by the entrance of the cave. They could occupy these at a moment's
warning. They stood under the shadow of the rocks, keeping watch down
the ravine. They knew they might be a long time on their vigil, and
they made themselves as comfortable as possible by consuming the meagre
stock of provisions which the cibolero had left in the cave. The
mulatto, to keep out the cold, had thrown the newly appropriated blanket
upon his shoulders. A gourd of chingarito, which they had taken care to
bring with them, enabled them to pass the time cheerfully enough. The
only drawback upon their mirth was the thought of the dog Cibolo, which
every now and again intruded itself upon the mind of the yellow hunter,
as well as upon that of his darker confrere.

Their vigil was shorter than either had anticipated. They fancied that
their intended victim might make a long ride of it--perhaps to the
borders of the settlement--that he might have business that would detain
him, and that it might be near morning before he would get back.

In the midst of those conjectures, and while it still wanted some hours
of midnight, the mulatto, whose eyes were bent down th