About the equipage there was little now to make remark upon, or cause it to be regarded with suspicion. Some rich _haciendado_, who had been at the laying of the foundation-stone, on return to his country house, taking a friend along with him. The strapping fellow on the box might be mayor-domo of the estate--they are usually tall men--who had taken a fancy to try his hand at driving, and the coachman had surrendered him the reins. All perfectly natural, and _en regle_, even to the rapid speed at which the horses were put. The driver not accustomed to handling the ribbons would account for this. Besides, the sun was getting low, the _casa de campo_ might be a good distance from town, and such a splendid turnout, belated on a country road would be like tempting Providence, and certainly the _salteadores_! How little would its occupants have regarded an encounter with highwaymen. Perhaps just then they would have welcomed it. Nor much did Rivas anticipate further trouble in the streets of the city. He was familiar with those they were now driving along, and felt no fear of being obstructed there--at least by the people. Had they hung their chain out of the carriage window and exposed the prison dress, no one in that quarter would have cried "Stop thief!" The man who should so cry, would run the risk of having his clamour suddenly silenced. For all they had apprehensions of the keenest. If they were in no danger while in the streets, they would be when parting from them--at El Nino Perdido. That gauntlet had yet to be run. But while thinking of it, they had not been idle; instead, all the while planning and preparing for it; Rivas instructing the others as to how they should act. "A _garita_ of the usual kind," he said to Kearney, making known the nature of the anticipated obstruction; "a gate across the road, with a guard-house alongside. There's sure to be a sergeant and eight or ten files in it. If, by good luck, the gate be open, our best way will be to approach gently, then go through at a gallop. If shut, we'll be called upon to show our best diplomacy. Leave all that to me. Failing to fool the guard, we must do battle with it. Anything's better than be taken back to the Acordada. That would be sure death for me; and, if I mistake not, for yourself, Senor." "I'm sure of it. If we can't get through without, let us fight our way, whatever the result." "Take this pair, then. They seem the most reliable. You _Americanos_ are more skilled in the use of fire-arms than we. With us steel is preferred. But I'll do the best I can with the other pair." This had reference to two pairs of pistols discovered under the carriage cushions. Nor were they the only weapons there; besides them were two long-bladed knives, and a pearl-handled stiletto--the last a tiny affair, which looked as though taken from the toilet case of a lady.