"Oh no, you have instructed him too well, sir; he is always the first of us to rise."
"How is it that he is not here, in that case?"
"Oh," the vaquero said with hesitation, "he has gone out: hang it, he is free, now that he is twenty-two years of age."
"Already!" the adventurer muttered in a gloomy voice. Then suddenly shaking his head, he said:
"Let us breakfast."
The meal commenced under rather melancholy auspices, but thanks to the efforts of the adventurer, the former gaiety soon returned, and the end of the breakfast was as merry as could be desired.
All at once López suddenly entered the rancho.
"Señor Loïck," he said, "here is your son: I do not know what he is bringing, but he is on foot and leading his horse by the bridle."
All rose and left the rancho. At about a gunshot from the rancho, they really saw a man leading a horse by the bridle: a rather heavy burden was fastened on the animal's back.
The distance prevented them from distinguishing the nature of this burden.