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The little troop, having safely forded the Pecos, headed towards the "ceja" of the Llano Estacado, that was not far distant from the crossing of Bosque Redondo. A sloping ravine brought them to the top of the "mesa," where a firm level road lay before them a smooth plain without break or bush to guide them on their course. But the cibolero needed no guide.
This expression was heightened by the gleaming blade of a long knife, whose haft was firmly grasped by the hand of the cibolero. At sight of those demonstrations, Vizcarra turned white with terror. He now comprehended what was meant. The asking for the troop had been but a subterfuge to get near his own person!
His favourite humbled himself the loser of ten golden onzas no small sum, even to the Comandante of a frontier Presidio. Moreover, to be jibed by the fair senoritas for losing a wager he had himself challenged, and which, no doubt, he felt certain of winning. From that moment Vizcarra liked not "Carlos the cibolero."
The worst of it is, when one bets with these low people there is no chance of getting a revanche at some other time. One cannot meet them in the ordinary way." "But who is the fellow?" again inquired one. "Who? Why, a cibolero that's all." "True, but is there nothing about his history? He's a gilero, and that is odd for a native! Is he a Criollo? He might be a Biscayan."
The moon shone upon their faces the fair skin and curly locks of Carlos were distinctly visible under the light. The girl knew the cibolero it was he. She had seen all that was necessary for Roblado to know. The grove was the place of meeting. It only remained for her to get back to the officer, and give the information.
"It is the Comandante himself!" said Don Juan, also recognising him. "Enough! I have no time for more talk," cried the cibolero. "Now or never! If I return, you shall know what to do. If not, I am taken or killed. But stay here. Stay till late in the night; I may still escape. Their prisons are not too strong; besides, I carry this gold. It may help me. No more. Adios! true friend, adios!"
They were really awed by the terrible fate which they believed awaited the reckless cibolero. A voice, however, answered him: "Twenty onzas, Carlos, for any other purpose. But I cannot encourage this mad project." It was the young ranchero, his former backer, who spoke. "Thank you, Don Juan," replied the cibolero. "I know you would lend them. Thank you all the same. Do not fear! I'll win the onza.
But there were swifter horses than his on the ground; and before he could double the turning-post he was overtaken by an active vaquero, and lost a wing of his bird. Another wing was plucked from him by a second pursuer; and he returned to the tree with nothing but a fragment left! Of course he received neither vivas nor cheers. Carlos the cibolero took no part in this contest.
A gleam of joy shot over the features of the cibolero not at the announcement, though Vizcarra thought so; but at his observation of the fact that the latter seemed to be now alone upon the azotea. Roblado's face was not above the wall. "It is exceedingly gracious of your excellency to grant this favour to an humble individual like myself. I know not how to thank you."
This was the first shape of the "novedades." Another rumour had it that the "Indios mansos" had revolted; that they were headed by Carlos the cibolero; that they had made an unsuccessful attempt upon the Presidio, in which, as before, the valiant soldiers had repulsed them with great loss on both sides, including the Comandante and his officers: that this was but the first outbreak of a great conspiracy, which extended to all the Tagnos of the settlement, and that no doubt the attack would be renewed that night!
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