"About thirty paces off." "Under the dark tree?" "Ay, senor,—the moon shines full upon him." "Keep close in the gloom: he sees us now, I think." The figure of a man armed with a long musquet appeared clearly, as the bright radiance of the moon streamed down the narrow path, glittering on the butts of his pistols and hilt of the poniard stuck in the worsted sash which was twisted round his waist. He wore a long slouched cap, which hung down his back, and various tassels, ribbons, and gewgaws of gold lace that adorned his short velvet jacket glimmered in the moonlight. "_Quien vive?_" challenged he, like a Spanish sentinel, while he stooped his ear towards the ground, listening intensely for a few seconds. He appeared to have heard something. It was Evan’s feet rustling among the last year’s leaves. The robber stood erect, and cocked his musquet while he looked forward into the gloom, a passing cloud having obscured the face of the moon. "_Carajo! Quien vive? Amigos ó enemigos?_" he repeated, the sonorous tones of his voice reechoing in the dingles of the wood, and arousing the fierce growling of some dogs near at hand. "This is one of the villains, senor, bedecked in all his ill-gotten finery." "We must dispatch him," answered Ronald in a fierce whisper, his natural impetuosity becoming roused; "we must rid ourselves of him, but how?" "Quietly, senor,—leave him to me. Every man lost to the enemy is one gained to us,—so says Murillo, and he—" "Pshaw! never mind Murillo. This fellow must be settled warily, if we would steal upon the rest. What would you advise? He certainly hears us, and should he fire in this direction, one of us may be knocked on the head. I will rush on him, and disarm or cut him down in a twinkling." "Nay, noble senor; his outcry would be as mischievous as the discharge of his musquet: the ruins of the chapel are close at hand, remember. Leave him to me," was Pedro’s answer, while he coolly displayed the blade of a long Spanish knife, which flashed as he drew it, and, gliding from Ronald’s side, advanced softly towards the brigand under the shadow of the trees. The challenge of the bandit again sounded through the lonely wood.