They had not yet seated themselves in the positions they designed to take by the entrance of the cave. They could occupy these at a moment's warning. They stood under the shadow of the rocks, keeping watch down the ravine. They knew they might be a long time on their vigil, and they made themselves as comfortable as possible by consuming the meagre stock of provisions which the cibolero had left in the cave. The mulatto, to keep out the cold, had thrown the newly appropriated blanket upon his shoulders. A gourd of chingarito, which they had taken care to bring with them, enabled them to pass the time cheerfully enough. The only drawback upon their mirth was the thought of the dog Cibolo, which every now and again intruded itself upon the mind of the yellow hunter, as well as upon that of his darker confrere. Their vigil was shorter than either had anticipated. They fancied that their intended victim might make a long ride of it--perhaps to the borders of the settlement--that he might have business that would detain him, and that it might be near morning before he would get back. In the midst of those conjectures, and while it still wanted some hours of midnight, the mulatto, whose eyes were bent down the ravine, was seen suddenly to start, and grasp his companion by the sleeve. "Look!--yonder, boy Pepe! Yonder come guero!" The speaker pointed to a form approaching from the plain, and nearing the narrow part of the ravine. It was scarce visible by the uncertain light, and just possible to distinguish it as the form of a man on horseback. "Carr-rr-a-ai! it is--carr-r-ai!" replied the zambo, after peering for some time through the darkness. "Keep close in, boy Pepe! hwish! Pull back dog! take place--lie close-- I watch outside--hwish!" The zambo took his station according to the plan they had agreed upon; while the yellow hunter, bloodhound in hand, remained by the entrance of the cave. In a few moments the latter was seen to start up with a gesture of alarm. "Dam!" he exclaimed. "Dam! told you so--till lost--ready, boy Pepe--dog on our trail!" "Carajo, Man'l! what's to be done?" eagerly inquired the zambo. "In--in--let come in--kill 'im in cave--in!" Both rushed inside and stood waiting. They had hastily formed the design of seizing the cibolero's dog the moment he should enter the cave, and strangling him if possible. In this design they were disappointed; for the animal, on reaching the mouth of the cave, refused to enter, but stopped upon the ledge outside and commenced barking loudly.