Our scouts had gone about a mile, and Ronie was riding slightly in advance, when he became aware of the approach of a body of horsemen coming at a leisurely trot. In a moment he signaled for his companions to stop.
"We cannot avoid meeting them," he said, "and no doubt they are a part of El Capitan's army. We have started too late to escape them. Is there any path turning off from the road that we can turn into, Riva?"
"None, señor."
"Then we must turn aside here. Quick! push your horses back into the forest, making as little noise and disturbance as you can."
They were so successful in this work that before the approaching riders had come into sight they were all safely ambushed where they could peer out upon the passers-by without being seen, except by some scrutinizing eye. Ronie and Jack sat in their saddles, side by side, while Riva and his companion were only slightly removed. As the sound of the horsemen indicated their close proximity, our hero parted the bushes enough to enable him to obtain a good view of the road.
"If our horses will only keep quiet," he began, "there is a——"
Ronie's attention, in the midst of his speech, had become fastened upon the foremost of the approaching riders, so his companions never knew what he was about to say. Nor did he speak until the horsemen were within half a dozen yards of them. The body of men were riding two and two, and what had arrested his eyes was the sight of the nearest rider in the lead.
"It must be—it is Harrie!" he whispered.
"Ay, lad!" responded Jack, who had been watching as eagerly and closely as his companion.
"He is lashed upon the horse, and his hands tied behind him. What does it mean?"