"That villain, Antonio de la Ronda—"
"Well?" Montbarts interrupted, with a nervous tremor.
"He has escaped!"
"Malediction!"
"Ten men have set out in pursuit."
"Stuff! It is all up now; they will not catch him. What is to be done?"
"What has happened?" Lepoletais asked.
"Our guide has escaped."
"Is it only that? I promise to find you another."
"Yes, but this one is probably the cleverest spy the Spaniards possess; he knows enough of our secrets to make our expedition fail."