“We slipped away early, _señor_, a few of us at a time, not taking the trouble to remove the teepees. The word has been sent to all, and men are leaving every rancheria and village. We obeyed as soon as we received your message.” “As soon as you----? Yes, of course!” “By the middle of to-night nearly all will be on the Fernandez rancho, _señor_. Every hut will be crowded, and there will be a big camp in the cañon there. It was wise to make the gathering-place there, _señor_, where hundreds of men may hide until all is ready. And from there it is an easy five miles across the hills to the mission.” “I understand that.” “We considered it clever of you, also, to send the word from San Luis Rey de Francia and in a roundabout manner. It was well that we were warned that all had been discovered, and that the big sergeant from Santa Barbara had come along El Camino Real to put missions and the presidio on guard.” The caballero sat up straight and looked keenly at the face he scarcely could see in the gloom. “I did not know that,” he said. “You did not know it? The old man beside the roadway at San Luis Rey de Francia sent out the warning. This sergeant told the frailes there that the conspiracy was known, that the Governor was coming south with soldiers, and that in the north leaders had been seized and thrown in prison to be shot. But Captain Fly-by-Night, the greatest leader of all, was at San Diego de Alcalá and was to be taken immediately, before he could join the Indians--that was the word, _señor_. Thank Heaven you were not taken!” “So they have orders to take Captain Fly-by-Night, eh?” cried the caballero. “Now I know why those troopers were eager to catch me.” “What did you think, _señor_?” “I had an argument at San Diego de Alcalá with the man they call Rojerio Rocha, who arrived this morning--a sword argument, gentile--and I ran him through. I supposed the soldiers sought me because of that. Catch Captain Fly-by-Night, eh?” The caballero rose and paced the floor of the cave, laughing to himself so loudly that the gentile before him cautioned silence. “So all is known, eh? I am to be taken dead or alive, I suppose? Now I am, indeed, cut off from all reputable persons.” “Then now is the time to strike the blow, _señor_. We can be victorious if we strike it before the Governor comes. We can wipe the mission and presidio from the earth, _señor_! We can devastate every rancho! And when we start, the word will run up the coast, and at other posts and missions our friends will strike. We cannot fail, _señor_! Give the word--give the word to-night!” “If I counsel that you wait?” “Why delay? Other leaders have been seized. If we do not strike successfully, suspected gentiles and neophytes will be slain by hundreds by the Governor’s men. It is all in your hands now, _señor_. You will be like a king! Give the word to-night!” “If I think it best to delay----?”