e ravine, was seen
suddenly to start, and grasp his companion by the sleeve.

"Look!--yonder, boy Pepe! Yonder come guero!"

The speaker pointed to a form approaching from the plain, and nearing
the narrow part of the ravine. It was scarce visible by the uncertain
light, and just possible to distinguish it as the form of a man on
horseback.

"Carr-rr-a-ai! it is--carr-r-ai!" replied the zambo, after peering for
some time through the darkness.

"Keep close in, boy Pepe! hwish! Pull back dog! take place--lie close--
I watch outside--hwish!"

The zambo took his station according to the plan they had agreed upon;
while the yellow hunter, bloodhound in hand, remained by the entrance of
the cave. In a few moments the latter was seen to start up with a
gesture of alarm.

"Dam!" he exclaimed. "Dam! told you so--till lost--ready, boy Pepe--dog
on our trail!"

"Carajo, Man'l! what's to be done?" eagerly inquired the zambo.

"In--in--let come in--kill 'im in cave--in!"

Both rushed inside and stood waiting. They had hastily formed the
design of seizing the cibolero's dog the moment he should enter the
cave, and strangling him if possible.

In this design they were disappointed; for the animal, on reaching the
mouth of the cave, refused to enter, but stopped upon the ledge outside
and commenced barking loudly.

The mule uttered a cry of disappointment, and, dropping the bloodhound,
rushed forward, knife in hand, to attack Cibolo. At the same moment the
hound sprang forward, and the two dogs became engaged in a desperate
conflict. This would have terminated to the disadvantage of the hound,
but, in another moment, all four--mulatto, zambo, hound, and wolf--were
assailing Cibolo both with knives and teeth. The latter, seeing himself
thus overmatched, and having already received several bad cuts,
prudently retreated among the rocks.

He was not followed, as the ruffians had still some hopes that the
cibolero, not suspecting what it could mean, might yet advance towards
the cave. But these hopes were of short duration. Next moment through
the dim light they perceived the horseman wheel round, and gallop off
towards the mouth of the ravine!

Exclamations of disappointment, profane ejaculations, and wild oaths,
echoed for some minutes through the vaulted cavern.

The excited ruffians at length became more cool, and, groping about in
the darkness, got hold of their horses, and led them out upon the ledge.
Her