This functionary soon made his appearance; not a house steward--as the name might seem to imply--in white cravat, stockings, and powdered wig; but, on the contrary, a strapping energetic fellow, dressed in full _ranchero_ costume, with a pair of spurs upon his booted heels, whose enormous rowels caused him to walk almost upon his toes, and with long black hair hanging to his shoulders like the manes of the half-wild horses he was accustomed to ride. Such is the _mayor-domo_ of a Mexican hacienda, whose duties, instead of confining him to the dwelling-house, consist in the general superintendence of the estate, often equal in extent to the half of a county. It is, therefore, necessary for him to be a man of the most active habits, a first-class rider, ever in the saddle, or ready to leap into it at a moment's notice. Such was the personage who presented himself in obedience to the summons of Don Mariano. "Give orders," said the latter, addressing him, "to my two vaqueros, Arroyo and Bocardo, to saddle their horses and accompany Senor Don Rafael!" "Neither Arroyo nor Bocardo can be found," replied the mayor-domo. "It is eight days since I have seen either of them." "Give each of them four hours in the _xepo_ (stocks), as soon as they return!" "I doubt whether they will ever return, Senor Don Mariano." "What! have they gone to join Valdez, think you?" "Not exactly," replied the mayor-domo; "I have my suspicions that the brace of worthies have gone to get up a guerilla on their own account." "Summon Sanchez, then!" "Sanchez is laid up in bed, Senor Don Mariano. He has some bones broken by a wild horse--that he had mounted for the first time--having reared and fallen back upon him." "So, Senor Don Rafael," said the haciendado with an air of vexation, "out of six servants which I counted yesterday I have not one to place at your service, except my mayor-domo here, for I cannot reckon upon those stupid Indian _peons_. The mayor-domo will attend you." "No," rejoined Don Rafael; "it is not necessary. Let him remain here. I shall go alone to the assistance of my father, who, no doubt, will have plenty of people with him. It is more likely a leader that is wanted." The mayor-domo, dismissed by this answer, hurried towards the stables, to see that Don Rafael's horse was made ready for the road. CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. THE VOW PERFORMED. While these incidents were in course of occurrence, the two sisters had returned to their own chamber. Alarmed by the coincidence, between the melancholy event that had just transpired and the procrastination of her vow, Gertrudis fancied she saw in it the finger of Providence; and, without further hesitation, she, with her own hands, completed the pious but painful sacrifice! Shrouded under the folds of her _reboso_, her pale face appeared beneath a single band of hair that encircled her forehead--all that was left of that magnificent _chevelure_.