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After what you saw, we deem it necessary that Don Valerian Miranda should die; and also the other, who is equally incriminated as a traitor to the State a rebel, an old conspirator, well known. Lieutenant Roblez and I have held a court, and decreed their death. So order the men to load their carbines, and make ready to carry out the sentence."
At one side there was an opening large enough to admit the passage of a horse; and into this he rode, Roblez following, and also the mules in a string, one after the other. Behind the boulder was an open space of a few square yards, of extent sufficient to allow room for turning a horse.
In this there was no trace or sign of travel no appearance of its having been entered by man or animal. Yet the horse ridden by Roblez, and the pack-mules coming after, entered with as free a step as if going into a well-known enclosure. True, the chief of the party, mounted on the Kentucky steed, had gone in before them; though this scarce accounted for their confidence.
"This time, Roblez, we've made a pretty fair haul of it," remarked he who bestrode the black. "What with the silks and laces to say nothing of this splendid mount between my legs I think I may say that our time has not been thrown away." "Yours hasn't, anyhow. My share won't be much." "Come, come, teniente! don't talk in that way. You should be satisfied with a share proportioned to your rank.
He is but ill-armed for the unequal strife, having only a Colt's revolver with one chamber empty, and, as a dernier ressort, the single-barrelled pistols in the holsters. Quickly perceiving his disadvantage, he checks up before coming too close, and with his revolver takes aim, and fires at the nearest of his antagonists, who is Roblez.
As I intend marching slowly, you'll easily overtake us at our night camp." The corporal, singling out the file as directed, rides back towards the buttes, still in sight, while the troop continues its uninterrupted march. Uraga and Roblez again go in advance, the former making further disclosure of his plans to his particeps criminis.
The peon is unable to answer it. He does not think they are prisoners certainly not Conchita. She is only being taken back along with her mistress. About the senorita, his mistress, he heard some words pass between Uraga and Roblez, but without comprehending their signification. In his own heart Hamersley can supply it does so with dark, dire misgivings.
Both are saved by her interference; for grasping the upraised arm, she restrains it from the thrust. Roblez, close following, assists her, while several of the lancers, now dismounted, fling themselves upon Miranda and disarm him.
Not as one robbed of its prey he is still sure of this as ever; for he has other strings to his bow, and the weak one just snapped scarce signifies. But for having employed it to no purpose he now turns upon Roblez, who counselled the course that has ended so disastrously.
Then Roblez rose to go to the cuartel or barracks, where he had his place of sleeping and abode, bidding buena noche to his colonel. The latter also bethought him of bed, and, taking a lamp from the table, commenced moving towards his cuarto de camara.
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