s arms, and passed out of the rancho.

The others had already preceded him to the spot where the horses were
concealed.

Carlos saw that there were five of these animals. A gleam of joy shot
from his eyes as he recognised his noble steed. Antonio had recovered
him. Antonio was there, on the spot.

All were soon in the saddles. Two of the horses carried Rosita and
Catalina; the other two were ridden by Antonio and the groom Andres.
The cibolero himself, carrying his strange burden, once more sprang upon
the back of his faithful steed.

"Down the valley, master?" inquired Antonio.

Carlos hesitated a moment as if deliberating.

"No," replied he at length. "They would follow us that way. By the
pass of La Nina. They will not suspect us of taking the cliff road.
Lead on, Antonio:--the chapparal path--you know it best. On!"

The cavalcade started, and in a few minutes had passed the borders of
the town, and was winding its way through the devious path that led to
the pass of La Nina. No words were exchanged, or only a whisper, as the
horses in single file followed one another through the chapparal.

An hour's silent travel brought them to the pass, up which they filed
without halting till they had reached the top of the ravine. Here
Carlos rode to the front, and, directing Antonio to guide the others
straight across the table-land, remained himself behind.

As soon as the rest were gone past, he wheeled his horse, and rode
direct for the cliff of La Nina. Having reached the extremity of the
bluff, he halted at a point that commanded a full view of San Ildefonso.
In the sombre darkness of night the valley seemed but the vast crater
of an extinct volcano; and the lights, glittering in the town and the
Presidio, resembled the last sparks of flaming lava that had not yet
died out!

The horse stood still. The rider raised the corpse upon his arm; and,
baring the pale face, turned it in the direction of the lights.

"Mother! mother!" he broke forth, in a voice hoarse with grief. "Oh!
that those eyes could see--that those ears could hear!--if but for a
moment--one short moment--that you might bear witness to my vow! Here
do I swear that you shall be revenged! From this hour I yield up my
strength, my time, my soul and body, to the accomplishment of vengeance.
Vengeance! why do I use the word? It is not vengeance, but justice--
justice upon the perpetrators of the foulest murder the world has ever
record