"Diablo! a mystery, Master Carnero?"
"Mi amo, it is my duty to inform no one but your excellency of my discovery."
"Hum! then you have discovered something?"
The other bowed, but made no further answer.
"Very well then," his master continued, "come this way: go on, muchachos," he added, addressing the peons, "I will rejoin you in a moment."
The latter went on, while the leader retired for a few paces, followed by the capataz. When he considered that he had placed a sufficient distance between himself and the ears of his people, he addressed the half-breed again—
"Now, I suppose, Master Carnero," he said, "you will see no inconvenience in explaining yourself?"
"None at all, excellency."
"Speak then, in the fiend's name, and keep me no longer in suspense."
"This is the affair, excellency: I have discovered a grotto."