"Don't be uneasy; the owner of that wretched rancho will take all proper care of them." John Davis raised a whistle to his lip and blew it twice sharply. Almost immediately the door of the rancho opened and a man appeared; but, after taking one step forward, he took two backward, doubtless astonished at seeing two persons when he only expected one. "Halloh! halloh, John!" Davis shouted, "don't go in again." "Is it you, then?" he asked. "Yes! Unless it be the demon who has assumed my face." The fisherman shook his head with a dissatisfied air. "Do not jest so, John Davis," he said; "the night is black and the sea rough; so the demon is about." "Come, come, old porpoise," the American continued, "get your boat ready, for we have no time to lose. This Señor is a friend of mine. Have you any alfalfa for our horses in your cabin?" "I should think so. Eh, Pedriello, come hither, muchacho. Take the horses from the Caballero, and lead them to the corral." At this summons a tall young fellow came yawning from the rancho, and walked up to the two travellers. The latter had already dismounted; the peon took the horses by the bridle and went off with them, not saying a word. "Shall we go?" John Davis asked. "Whenever you please," the fisherman growled. "I hope you have men enough?" "My two sons and I are, I should think, enough to cross the bay." "You must know better than I." "Then, why ask?" the fisherman said with a shrug of his shoulders, as he proceeded toward the boat. The two men followed him, and found that he had not deceived them. The sea was bad, being rough and lumpy, and it required all the old sailor's skill to successfully cross the bay. Still, after two hours of incessant toil, the boat came alongside Galveston jetty, and disembarked its passengers safe and sound; then, without waiting for a word of thanks, the sailor at once disappeared in the obscurity. "We part here," said John Davis to the Colonel; "for we each follow a different road. Tomorrow morning, at nine o'clock, I shall have the honour of presenting, myself at the General's house. May I hope that you have spoken to him of me in sufficient favourable terms for him to grant me a kind reception?" "I will do all that depends on myself." "Thank you, and good night." "One word, if you please, before parting." "Speak, Colonel." "I confess to you, that at this moment I am suffering from extreme curiosity." "What about?" "A moment before your arrival, I saw four men, carrying a fifth, enter the rancho to which accident had brought me." "Well?" "Who is that man?"