CHAPTER XIX.
FALSE PLAY, OR NOT?
There was no actual reason why we should feel alarmed; but Lima was an unsafe place in those days, and people who travelled at night generally went well armed.
As yet the bend in the road prevented us from seeing any one, but listening intently, we distinctly heard the sounds of a horse's hoofs.
"There's only one, José," I whispered; and he nodded. I do not know that we should have taken any notice of the man, but for his efforts to conceal his identity. We came upon him suddenly, while the moon shone full in his face, and before he had time either to draw his poncho closer or to pull the slouch hat over his eyes. Both these things he did quickly, but meanwhile we had seen, and a look of keen surprise shot across José's face. Recovering himself instantly, he said cheerfully,—
"Good-night, señor. Fine night for a ride."
"So you seem to think," replied the other surlily.
"You have come from the town, I see," said José, for we lived eastward of Lima; "is all quiet there?"
"Why shouldn't it be? Kindly allow me to pass; I am in a hurry," responded our morose stranger.