"Perfectly useless," the Captain assured him.
Now, feeling perfectly at his ease again, the arriero hastened to perform his ordinary duties.
In this way, the Captain, by pretending to admit the ideas of this ignorant Indian, had led him quietly to abandon them.
By this time all were astir in the camp, the arrieros were rubbing down and loading the mules, while the troopers were saddling their horses and making all preparations for a start.
The Captain watched all the movements with feverish energy, spurring some on, scolding others, and assuring himself that his orders were punctually carried out.
When all the preparations were completed, the young officer ordered that the morning meal should be eaten all standing, and with the bridle passed over the arm, in order to lose no time, and then gave the signal for departure.
The soldiers mounted, but at the moment when the column started to leave the camp finally, a loud noise was heard in the chaparral, the branches were violently pulled back, and a horseman dressed in a dragoon uniform appeared a short distance from the party, toward which he advanced at a gallop.
On coming in front of the Captain, he stopped short, and raised his hand respectfully to the peak of his forage cap.
"Dios guarde a Vm!" he said, "have I the honour of speaking with Captain Don Juan Melendez?"
"I am he," the Captain answered in great surprise; "what do you want?"