"Hum!" said the Lieutenant, with a dubious shrug of the shoulders, "I suppose you expect your virtue to be well rewarded. But how did you ascertain that the man you encountered so unexpectedly was the Colonel?" Zapote now recounted their subsequent interview with the brigands; and how he had learnt from them the object of their pursuit--as well as the adroit ruse he had practised to secure the escape of himself and his "compadre." "It's all true as gospel!" affirmed Gaspar, when his companion had finished the relation. Zapote also made known the advice he had given to Don Rafael: to conceal himself among the bamboos. "At what place?" demanded the Lieutenant. "Just below the ford," answered the deserter. "But, Senor Lieutenant," added he, "I shall be most happy to conduct you to the spot myself." "You shall do no such thing, my brave fellow. You and your worthy _compadre_, as you call him, shall remain here as hostages, till Don Rafael is found. I have no confidence in lambs that have been so long in the company of wolves. If the Colonel be living, so may you; but if I find it otherwise, then your prospects--Ho, there!" cried the Lieutenant, without finishing the threat, "take these two men to the guard-house, and keep them there, till I order them to be set free." So saying, the Catalan poured out a glass of his favourite liquor, and commenced drinking it. "What, and me, too?" inquired Gaspar, in a tone not very complimentary to his companion in misfortune. "A fig for you! my worthy fellow!" rejoined the Lieutenant. "You should have remembered the proverb, _mas vale viajar in solo que mal acompanado_." (Better travel alone than in bad company.) "By the cross of Christ!" continued he, after quaffing off his glass, "I shall make short work of it with this bandit, Arroyo. To-night I shall finish with him and his band; and if I don't give the jackals and vultures a meal that will last them for a twelvemonth, my name's not Veraegui!" At an order from his superior, the _alferez_ flung down the cards, and hurried off to prepare the garrison troops for sallying out of the fort to the rescue of their Colonel; while the corporal of the guards conducted Gaspar and Zapote to the prison--the latter no little disconcerted at finding his first act of virtue so indifferently rewarded! CHAPTER SEVENTY. NEWS SWEET AND SAD. From the middle of the cane-brake where Don Rafael had found shelter, he was able through the stems of the bamboos to see the camp of Arroyo and his bandits. He could note many of the movements passing within their lines; and at length perceived the guerilleros striking their tents, and riding off in a body from the banks of the river. He still kept his place, however, until the night had fairly come on, and then wading back to the high bank where the bamboo thicket commenced, he looked out upon the open space between the river and the edge of the forest.