“No! He left a short while after I came and he rode through the marsh and into the woods.” “Good! That’s all we need to know.” It was two days later that Miguel stole into the hut where David was perspiring over his task in the middle of the afternoon. A new lot of cattle had been driven into the corrals that morning. “The stranger is here again,” he said, “and Dom Carlos is showing him the pen of two-year-olds.” “We’ll see tonight,” David returned; it was hard for him to restrain his excitement. “Have two horses ready. Get them any way you can, but be sure to have them. I’ll have the other things.” Miguel returned to his work and David continued with his task; the hours seemed like days. It was dark when Miguel came to announce that the horses were waiting, and the two lost no time in going to the place where they had been tied. Soon the moon would rise and that would mean their discovery and the spoiling of their plan, so there was need of haste. The two rode slowly through the marsh, so as to make as little noise as possible. A half hour later they emerged from the mire and entered the clump of trees. By this time the moon had risen above the horizon and a faint light penetrated through the treetops. They had not gone far when a pair of dark forms appeared out of the shadows and came toward them. The riders stopped and awaited the approach of the two. “Is everything all right?” the foremost asked. “Where are the animals?” “They’re coming,” Miguel answered, as they dismounted leisurely. They led their horses to a tree and tied them. Then they walked carelessly to where the strangers were standing. The next thing the latter knew they were facing two revolvers, the muzzles of which were thrust against their chests. “Put up your hands!” David commanded, and the order was obeyed in an instant, so completely had the men been taken by surprise. “Thanks!” David continued. “We’re not going to hurt you in the least, that is, so long as you do what we say. But be careful; these guns are so easy on the trigger they can’t stand the least little pull. Don’t make me nervous or there might be an accident.” As he spoke, Miguel and he had relieved the two astonished men of their weapons. “What do you want?” one of them asked in a trembling voice. “You’re waiting for the cattle. They’re coming. One of you must go through with the deal, as if nothing had happened. My companion will guard the other of you while I substitute in his place to watch the deal. That isn’t much to ask, is it?” “This is the man I saw at the corral,” Miguel volunteered. “Let him meet Carlos.” “All right,” David returned. “Take the other one away, Miguel. Make him turn around and keep your gun against his back. If he makes one suspicious move--you know what to do; or, if I give the signal, shoot him anyway. I’ll keep my eyes on this one.” Miguel marched his prisoner into the shadows a short distance away.