Both the Comandante and his captain started, and visibly turned pale. The cibolero did not affect to notice this. "Nonsense! my good fellow!" stammered Roblado; "they are--at least-- hundreds of miles off by this--away over the Staked Plain--or to--to the mountains." "Pardon me, captain, for differing with you; but I believe I know these Indians--I know to what tribe they belong." "What tribe?" simultaneously inquired the officers, both with an earnestness of manner and a slight trepidation in their voices; "what tribe?--Were they not Yutas?" "No," answered the cibolero, while he observed the continued confusion of his questioners. "Who, then?" "I believe," replied Carlos, "they were _not_ Yutas--more likely my sworn foes, the Jicarillas." "Quite possible!" assented both in a breath, and evidently relieved at the enunciation. "Quite possible!" repeated Roblado. "From the description given us by the people who saw them, we had fancied they were the Yutas. It may be a mistake, however. The people were so affrighted, they could tell but little about them. Besides, the Indians were only seen in the night." "Why think you they are the Jicarillas?" asked the Comandante, once more breathing freely. "Partly because there were so few of them," replied Carlos. "Had they been Yutas--" "But they were not so few. The shepherds report a large band. They have carried off immense numbers of cattle. There must have been a considerable force of them, else they would not have ventured into the valley--that is certain." "I am convinced, your excellency, there could not have been many. A small troop of your brave soldiers would be enough to bring back both them and their booty." Here the lounging lanzeros erected their dwarfish bodies, and endeavoured to look taller. "_If_ they were Jicarillas," continued Carlos, "I should not need to follow their trail. They are _not_ in the direction of the Llano. If they have gone that way, it was to mislead you in the pursuit. I know where they are at this moment--in the mountains." "Ha! you think they are in the mountains?" "I am sure of it; and not fifty miles from here. If your excellency would but send a troop, I could guide it direct to the spot, and without following the trail they have taken out of the valley--which I believe was only a false one." The Comandante and Roblado drew back from the parapet, and for some minutes talked together in a low tone. "It would look well," muttered Roblado; "in fact, the very thing you want. The trump cards seem to drop right into your hands. You send a force at the _request_ of this fellow, who is a nobody here. You do him a service, and yourself at the same time. It will tell well, I warrant you." "But for him to act as guide?" "Let him! So much the better--that will satisfy all parties. He won't find his Jicarillas,--ha! ha ha!--of course; but let the fool have his whim!" "But suppose, camarado, he falls upon _our_ trail?--the cattle?"