He endeavoured to conceal his uneasiness, however; and, raising his voice to a tone of assumed boldness, he inquired:-- "It is to the ford of the Ostuta, then, we are to go?" "Yes, Senor Captain, whenever it pleases your honour to move forward." "We have plenty of time," replied Don Cornelio, evidently reluctant to make any further advance. "I wish to take a few hours of rest before going thither. And your old master, Don Mariano de Silva--did you hear anything of him?" "Yes. He has long ago left the hacienda Las Palmas, and is living in Oajaca. As to that of Del Valle, it is still occupied by the Royalist garrison." "So then we have enemies on all sides of us?" rejoined the Captain. "Arroyo and Bocardo," said Costal, "should scarcely be enemies to an officer bearing despatches from the General Morelos. As for Clara and myself, we are that sort whom these bandits never frighten." "I agree with you there," rejoined the Captain, "certainly I do-- meanwhile--nevertheless--I should prefer--ah! who is that horseman who is galloping in this direction, carbine in hand?" "If one may judge the master by the servant, and if this fellow chances to have a master, that master ought to be one of the greatest rogues on earth." As Costal was delivering this figurative speech, he stretched forth his hand and seized hold of his own old and trusty piece. The horseman in question was no other than Gaspacho--the courier who had brought to Arroyo the evil news from the hacienda Del Valle. He rode forward as one rides in a conquered country; and without making any obeisance addressed himself to the Captain--who, from being a white, appeared to him the most considerable of the three strangers. "Tell me, friend--" said he. "Friend!" cried Costal, interrupting him, and evidently ill pleased with his looks, "a captain in the army of General Morelos is no friend to such as you." "What does this brute of an Indian say?" demanded Gaspacho, regarding Costal with an air of contempt. The eyes of Costal fairly blazed with rage; and his movements promised for Gaspacho a terrible chastisement, when Don Cornelio interposed to prevent it. "What is your wish?" asked he of the follower of Arroyo. "To know if you have seen anything of that rascal, Juan de Zapote, and his worthy companion, Gaspar?" "We have seen neither Zapote nor Gaspar." "If they're not found, then, my friend Perico--who met and permitted them to pass him--is likely to spend a most uncomfortable quarter of an hour--when he appears in the presence of our Captain Arroyo." "Ah! you are in Arroyo's service then?" "I have the honour." "Perhaps you can tell me where I shall be most likely to find him?" "_Quien sabe_? By the ford of the Ostuta you may find him--if he's not gone elsewhere--to the hacienda of San Carlos, for example." "This hacienda does not belong to the royalists then?" inquired the Captain.