The officers formed a group apart. They were conversing together in a low voice, with considerable animation, not at all understanding the orders they had received, and not knowing for what reason the Chief had them awakened. The Jaguar advanced toward them, and the officers fell back. The young man, followed by the Scalper, entered the circle, which at once closed up again. John Davis, on perceiving the old man, whom he at once recognised, uttered a stifled cry of surprise. "Caballeros," the Jaguar said, in a low voice, "we are about to attempt a surprise, which, if it succeed, will render us masters of the hacienda almost without a blow." A murmur of surprise ran round the circle. "A person in whom I have the most entire confidence," the Jaguar continued, "has revealed to me the existence of a secret gate, not known to the garrison, which will give us access to the fort. Each of you will now take the command of his men. Our march must be as silent as that of Indian warriors on the war trail. You have understood me fully, so I count on your aid. In the event of separation, the watchword will be _Texas y libertad_ To your posts." The circle was broken up, and each officer placed himself at the head of his men. John Davis then went up to the Jaguar. "One word," he said to him, bending to his ear to speak. "Do you know who that man is, standing close to you?" "Yes." "Are you sure?" "It is the White Scalper." "And you trust to him?" "Entirely." The American tossed his head. "Was it he who revealed to you the existence of the sally port by which we are to enter?" "Yes." "Take care." In his turn, the Jaguar shrugged his shoulders. "You are mad," he said. "Well, that is possible," John replied; "but for all that, I will watch him." "As you please." "Well, let us be off." The American followed his Chief, casting a parting look of suspicion on the old man. The latter did not seem to trouble himself at all about this aside. Apparently indifferent to what went on around him, he waited, quietly leaning on his rifle, till it pleased the Jaguar to give the command for departure. At length, the word "march" ran from rank to rank, and the column started. These men, the majority of whom were accustomed to long marches in the desert, placed their feet so softly on the ground, that they seemed to glide along like phantoms, so silent was their march. At this moment, as if the sky wished to be on their side, an immense black cloud spread across the heavens and interrupted the moonbeams, substituting, almost without transition, a deep obscurity for the radiance that previously prevailed, and the column disappeared in the gloom. A few paces ahead of the main body, the Jaguar, White Scalper, and John Davis marched side by side. "Bravo!" the young man muttered; "Everything favours us." "Let us wait for the end," the American growled, whose suspicions, far from diminishing, on the contrary were augmented from moment to moment.