"Very good, that is what I call speaking," the ex-slave dealer said, with a hearty laugh; "the partisans of Santa Anna must have to hold their own; for, if I am not greatly mistaken, ere long we shall cut them into stirrup leathers." At this moment a shrill whistle, although rather remote, was heard: a second whistle, still nearer, replied. "Gentlemen," the stranger said, "we are warned of the approach of an enemy; perhaps it is only a false alarm, still the interest of the cause we defend imperiously ordains prudence. Follow John Davis, while I receive the troublesome fellow who is intruding on us." "Come," said the American. The conspirators, for they were no other, displayed some hesitation, for they felt a repugnance to hide themselves. "Leave me," the stranger went on, "you must." All bowed and left the room after John Davis by the secret door, which had offered passage to their Chief, and which closed upon them without displaying a sign of its existence, as it was so carefully hidden in the wall. A third whistle, close by, was heard at this moment. "Yes, yes," the Chief said, with a smile, "whoever you may be, you can come now; if you possessed the craft of the opossum and the eyes of the eagle, I defy you to discover anything suspicious here." He took off his mask, concealed his weapons, and lay back in a butaca. Almost immediately the doors opened, and a man appeared. It was Lanzi, the half-breed; he was dressed like the sailors of the port, with canvas trousers drawn in round the hips, a white shirt, with a blue turned down collar, with a white edging, and a tarpaulin hat. "Well," the Chief asked, without turning, "why did you warn us, Lanzi?" "It is highly necessary," the other answered. "Is it serious, then?" "You shall judge for yourself. The governor is coming hither with several officers and a company of soldiers." "General Rubio?" "In person." "Hang it!" the conspirator said, "Are we threatened with a domiciliary visit?" "You will soon know, for I hear him." "Very good; we shall see what they want of us. In the meanwhile take this mask and these weapons." "The weapons too?" the other said in surprise. "What shall I do with them? That is not the way in which I must fight them at this moment. Be off, here they are!" The half-breed took the mask and pistols, pressed a spring, and disappeared through the door. The garden gravel could now be heard creaking under the footsteps of several persons. At length the door of the saloon was thrown open, and the General entered, followed by four or five officers, who, like himself, were in full dress. The General stopped on the threshold, and took a piercing glance around; the Chief had risen, and was standing motionless in the centre of the apartment. General Rubio was a thorough man of the world. He bowed politely, and apologized for having thus entered the house without being announced; but he found all the doors open, and no servant had come up to him.