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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.
"See us enter the canon, mile off jump into saddle, pass up to plain above maybe three days before find him again maybe not find at all, boy Pepe." "Well, brother Man'l I have a plan. Let us get near the mouth of the canon, and hide outside of it till night then as soon as it is dark creep into where it narrows. He will come down that way to go out.
Must not forget capture not kill leave that to them. No use track Anton know where t'other keeps. If didn't know that, then might track Anton." "Can't we get near the cave in daylight, Man'l? I don't have a good memory of the place." "Mile no nearer unless he sleep when sleep? Tell me that, boy Pepe!" "And suppose he be awake?"
"How, brother Man'l? you think he'll not go far off?" "Sure of it. Guero not ride far nowhere to go soon trail 'im find 'im asleep crawl on 'im but for dog crawl on 'im sure." "If you think so, then I don't believe you need trouble yourself about the dog. If he lives twenty minutes after the stab I gave him, he's a tough brute, that's all.
"Then what way, brother Man'l?" "Dam! forgot bloodhound? Trail by night fast as ride soon overtake guero." "But, brother Man'l, he's not going to stop short of ten leagues from here! We can't come up with him to-night, can we?" "Fool again, boy Pepe! Stop within ten miles stop because won't think of bloodhound won't think can trail 'im stop, sure. Dam! that dog played devil thought he would dam!"
"Won't do, boy Pepe not easily overtake guero afoot. Get off among rocks hide for days can't track him afoot be on his guard after give us trouble old plan best let pass have him safe when he come back have him sure." "But Man'l " "Dam! no need for buts always in a hurry, boy Pepe have patience no buts, no fear. See, now!"
"Ay, Man'l; I understand." These were the last words exchanged between them for ten miles. They rode in file the mulatto in the lead, the zambo in his tracks, and the dogs following in the rear. These two went also in file, the bloodhound heading the wolf. At the end of ten miles they reached a dry river channel, that ran transversely across their route.
This their masters well knew, else they would have gone upon their man-hunt with less confidence of success. "May gallop away on his fine black," remarked the mulatto, as he glanced at the mustangs. "Soon overhaul him again won't we, boy Pepe?" "Chinga! we will." "Brace of hacks tire out racer, won't they, boy Pepe?" "Chingara! So they will, Man'l."
By the moon gleaming upon it, they could make out the figure of a horse and rider. They had no longer any doubt it was their intended victim. "Brother Man'l," whispered the zambo, "suppose he passes near! why not bring down the horse? you can't miss in this fine light both of us can aim at the horse; if we stop him we'll easily overtake the guero."
A pair of huge gaunt dogs trotted behind their horses' heels, fierce and savage-looking as their masters. One was the wolf-dog of the country, the other a Spanish bloodhound. "What road, Man'l?" inquired the zambo as they parted from the hut; "straight down to the Pecos?" "No, Pepe boy: must climb, go round. Seen making down valley, somebody guess what we're after send him word we're coming.
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