Don Juan and the rest expressed surprise, but there was nothing in all this to surprise the cibolero. _He_ was expecting that. The expression on his face was not that of astonishment. It was far different--far more terrible to behold! His eyes were sunk in their sockets and gleaming with a lurid light, as if fire was burning within them. His teeth were firmly set--his lips white and tightly drawn, as if he was meditating, or had already made, some desperate resolve. He scarce looked at the tracks, he needed their guidance no longer. _He knew there he was going_! The trail crossed a muddy arroyo. The dog sweltered through, and the red clay adhered to his shaggy coat. It corresponded with that with which he had been already besmeared! Don Juan noticed the circumstance, and pointed it out. "He has been here before!" said he. "I know it," replied Carlos; "I know it all--all. There is no mystery now. Patience, amigo! You shall know all, but now let me _think_. I have no time for aught else." The trail still led in the direction of the town. It did not re-enter the valley, but passed over a sloping country to the upper plain, and then ran nearly parallel with the bluffs. "Master!" said Antonio, riding up by the side of Carlos, "these are not the tracks of Indian horses, unless they have stolen them. Two of them are _troop_ horses. I know the _berradura_ well. They are _officers' horses_, too--I can tell that from the shoeing." The cibolero showed no signs of being astonished by this information, nor made he reply. He seemed engrossed with his thoughts. Antonio, thinking he had not been heard or understood, repeated what he had said. "Good Antonio!" said the cibolero, turning his eyes on his follower, "do you think me blind or stupid?" This was not said angrily. Antonio understood its meaning, and fell back among his companions. On moved the trackers--now at a gallop, now more slowly, for their animals were by this time somewhat jaded. On they moved, still keeping the trail, and still heading straight for the town! At length they reached a point where a road from the upper plain led by a zigzag path to the valley below. It was the same by which Carlos had ascended to perform his great feat on the day of the fiesta. At the top of the descent Carlos ordered the party to halt, and with Don Juan rode forward to the edge of the projecting cliff--at the very spot where he had exhibited his skill--the cliff of _Nina Perdida_. Both drew up when near the edge. They commanded a full view of the valley and the town. "Do you see that building?" inquired the cibolero, pointing to the detached pile which lay between them and the town. "The Presidio?" "The Presidio." "Yes--what of it?" "_She is there_!" CHAPTER THIRTY.