"Yes, at the worst, senor."
"And how long, think you, could anyone lie concealed at Calvarro's?"
"I can scarcely say, senor. It must depend upon how wide the soldiers push out their search parties, and how well those who guide them know the country. But they would have difficulty in finding anyone in Daroca to act as guide; and without a guide the soldiers themselves might pass and repass the place without suspicion."
"Even in daylight?"
"Yes, even in daylight, senor."
"And you think we shall find no soldiers between here and there?"
"I believe there is no chance of it—but Senor Cabrera knows the place and can answer that as well as I."
"Good, push on then with all possible haste," I said, and dropping back to Cabrera I told him that I had made a change in my plan.
"Andreas tells me it is still possible to get into and out of Daroca without being seen, and what I think should be done is this: Send one of the lads by the quickest way into the town to warn our friends and to prepare a party to come to us; and you, or perhaps better, both you and Garcia, go with the other lad to meet them by the longer way, and bring them to us at Calvarro's. We can make the place our headquarters for the time."
"I think you're forgetting one thing, senor," he replied, with a grim smile. "If there's a means of getting into Daroca, the senorita won't stop at Calvarro's, but will insist on going herself. Indeed, I shall be more than a little surprised if we find she hasn't gone before we reach Calvarro's at all."