"Be cautious, Luciano; and, above all things, do not excite his suspicions."
"Make yourself easy on that score, señor. Your honour is as dear to me as my own; but I dare not leave you without means of defence, though it please you to trust yourself with a wretch as determined as he."
With these words, the capataz cut short the conversation, and left the jacal, to prevent further remarks from his master. "Ha!" said he, as he met El Zapote; "You are the very man I want, my friend!"
"Me, capataz! That is capital! What is to be done?"
"Come with me a while," replied the capataz; "I must tell you the matter where we cannot be overheard."
An hour later,—that is to say, a little after eleven in the morning,—the Tigercat arrived at the camp, as El Zopilote had asserted. The chief was dressed as a gambucino, and carried no weapons—at least, none were visible.
As soon as the sentinels recognised him, they allowed him to pass, and led him to the capataz, who was walking backwards and forwards. The Tigercat cast a scrutinising look around him the moment he entered the camp. Everything seemed in its usual state, and the chief saw nothing to excite suspicion. He approached the capataz.
"What do you want here?" asked Don Luciano roughly.
"I wish to speak to Don Pedro de Luna," quickly replied the Tigercat.
"Good! Follow me; he expects you."