"It is the Comandante himself!" said Don Juan, also recognising him. "Enough! I have no time for more talk," cried the cibolero. "Now or never! If I return, you shall know what to do. If not, I am taken or killed. But stay here. Stay till late in the night; I may still escape. Their prisons are not too strong; besides, I carry this gold. It may help me. No more. Adios! true friend, adios!" With a grasp of the ranchero's hand, Carlos leaped back to his saddle, and rode off. He did not go in the direction of the Presidio, as that would have discovered him too soon. But a path that led through the chapparal would bring him out on the main road that ran up to the front gate, and this path he took. Antonio guided him to the edge of the timber, and then returned to the rest. Carlos, once on the road, spurred his horse into gallop, and dashed boldly forward to the great gate of the Presidio. The dog Cibolo followed, keeping close up to the heels of his horse. CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. "By the Virgin, it _is_ he!" exclaimed Roblado, with a look of astonishment and alarm. "The fellow himself, as I live!" "I knew it!--I knew it!" shrieked Vizcarra. "I saw him on the cliff: it was no vision!" "Where can he have come from? In the name of all the saints, where has the fellow--" "Roblado, I must go below! I must go in, I will not stay to meet him! I _cannot_!" "Nay, colonel, better let him speak with us. He has seen and recognised you already. If you appear to shun him, it will arouse suspicion. He has come to ask our help to pursue the Indians; and that's his errand, I warrant you!" "Do you think so?" inquired Vizcarra, partially recovering his self-possession at this conjecture. "No doubt of it! What else? He can have no suspicion of the truth. How is it possible he could, unless he were a witch, like his mother? Stay where you are, and let us hear what he has got to say. Of course, you can talk to him from the azotea, while he remains below. If he show any signs of being insolent, as he has already been to both of us, let us have him arrested, and cooled a few hours in the calabozo. I hope the fellow will give us an excuse for it, for I haven't forgotten his impudence at the fiesta." "You are right, Roblado; I shall stay and heur him. It will be better, I think, and will allay any suspicion. But, as you say, he can have none!" "On the contrary, by your giving him the aid he is about to ask you for, you may put him entirely off the scent--make him your friend, in fact. Ha! ha!" The idea was plausible, and pleased Vizcarra. He at once determined to act upon it. This conversation had been hurriedly carried on, and lasted but a few moments--from the time the approaching horseman had been first seen, until he drew up under the wall.