Although the troop was some distance off at the moment, still at this signal the riders stopped as if the feet of their horses had suddenly become embedded in the ground. The Jaguar then bent over his saddle, leaped his horse over the bushes, and in a few minutes joined the men who had stopped for him. The Jaguar was hailed with shouts of joy, and all pressed round him with marks of the deepest interest. "Thanks, my friends," he said, "thanks for the proofs of sympathy you give me; but I must ask you to give me a moment's attention, for time presses." Silence was re-established, as if by enchantment, but the flashing glances fixed on the young man said clearly that sympathy, though dumb, was not the less vivid. "You were not mistaken, Master John," the Jaguar said, addressing one of the persons nearest to him; "the conducta is just behind us; we are not more than three or four hours' march ahead of it; as you warned me, it is escorted, and in proof that great importance is attached to its safety, the escort is commanded by Captain Melendez." His audience gave a start of disappointment at these news. "Patience," the Jaguar went on, with a sarcastic smile; "when force is not sufficient, stratagem remains; Captain Melendez is brave and experienced, I grant you, but are we not also brave men? Is not the cause we defend grand enough to excite us to carry out our enterprise at all hazards?" "Yes, yes, hurrah, hurrah!" all the hearers shouted, as they brandished their weapons enthusiastically. "Master John, you have already entered into relations with the Captain; he knows you, so you will remain here with another of our friends. Allow yourselves to be arrested. I entrust to you the duty of removing the suspicions that may exist in the Captain's mind." "I will do it, you may be certain." "Very good, but play close with him; for you have a strong opponent." "Do you think so?" "Yes. Do you know who accompanies him?" "On my word, no." "El Padre Antonio." "What's that you say? by Jove, you did right to warn me." "I thought so." "Oh, oh! Does that accursed monk wish to poach on our manor?" "I fear it. This man, as you know, is affiliated with all the scamps, no matter of what colour, who prowl about the desert: he is even reported to be one of their Chiefs; the idea of seizing the conducta may easily have occurred to him." "By Heaven, I will watch him; trust to me, I know him too thoroughly and too long for him to care to oppose me; if he dared to attempt it, I could reduce him to impotence." "That is all right. When you have obtained all the information we require to act, lose not a moment in informing us, for we shall count the minutes while waiting for you." "That is settled. I suppose we meet at the Barranca del Gigante." "Yes." "One word more." "Make haste." "What about Blue-fox?" "Hang it! I forgot all about him." "Shall I wait for him?" "Certainly."