The conclusion came quick as electricity. They were there to arrest him, for killing one of their comrades on the night before, or being an accomplice in the act! I heard them make the declaration to the young soldier himself. They had sufficient respect for the law to treat with him for a quiet surrender. More probably they feared his resistance--as he stood sword in hand in the doorway--looking like anything but a man who was going to give himself up! Had he yielded, they would scarce have kept faith with him. I had no doubt of their intention to slay him upon the spot, instead of taking him to their quarters. It was a crisis that called for my interference; and I interfered. It only needed the throwing open my cloak, and pointing out the "spread eagle" on my button. The slightest disobedience to me would have cost them a score of lashes each--"on the bare back, well laid on." Such was the phrasing of our military courts. Nothing of the kind was attempted. I had full control of my rescuers-- who were altogether unconscious of the service they had done me-- ignorant also of the fact that it was I, not the Mexican, who had sent their _camarado_ to his long account! For myself I had no fear of them. I only feared for my friend: who, if left to their tender mercies, would never have paid another visit to the Street of the Bishop. I did not leave him to be judged by the Red Tribunal. I made a compromise with their self-esteem--by taking a lead in his arrest! To this the accused man, with some show of reluctance, submitted; and, in ten minutes after, he was transported to the _Cuartel_, occupied by the Rifle Rangers--though not to suffer the degradation of being shut up in its guard-house. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. SIX O'CLOCK--IN THE ALAMEDA! I had little difficulty in clearing the paroled officer from the charge of assassinating "a member of the Spy Company." As soon as his accusers discovered what I knew of that affair, they not only withdrew their accusation, but their own precious persons, beyond the reach of court-martial inquiry. When "wanted," to give testimony in the investigation that ensued, not one, but five, of Dominguez's followers were reported "missing!" The four coadjutors of him who had been killed thought it more prudent not to press the charge; and when sent for, could not be found either in the "Spy" quarters, or elsewhere in the City of the Angels! They had taken their departure _a los Montes_; and I was left alone to tell the story of that nocturnal encounter. For their testimony I cared not a straw; though the episode was not without some beneficial effects. It taught our renegade allies a little lesion; which was no doubt afterwards profitable--if not to themselves-- to those who were so unfortunate as to have dealings with them. I was not so indifferent to the escape of the scoundrels who had attacked me in the "Street of the Sparrows;" and who appeared to have their head-quarters there.