“And what renegade commands?” Cassara desired to know. “Name him, for the love of the saints, so I’ll know him when we meet face to face!”
“The matter appears to be undecided,” returned one of the frailes. “We had thought this Captain Fly-by-Night was the renegade, and think so yet, knowing his character, but it seems the Indians have turned against him——”
“Or have pretended to turn against him and are playing a deep trick,” Cassara interrupted. “What has become of the scoundrel?”
“’Twas he fetched the women back to the mission unharmed,” the comandante replied.
“Dios! ’Twas he? Will someone explain this business?”
“Señora Vallejo appears to be on the verge of hysterics and will say little,” a fray responded, “except that this Fly-by-Night invaded a room occupied by the women at the rancho, and forced them to accompany him. He conducted them here in safety. His object in so doing is not known fully.”
“Hah! And this Rojerio Rocha—what became of him?”
“I can learn nothing from the women regarding Señor Rocha, except that Señorita Anita gasped out he is still at the rancho, and that it is too horrible to mention. The hostiles are holding him for torture, perhaps. There is deadly enmity between Señor Rocha and Captain Fly-by-Night.”
“Hah! Is there, by any chance, a possibility that this Señor Rocha himself is a renegade and leads the hostiles?” Sergeant Cassara demanded.
“Señor!” the fray cried. “Rojerio Rocha is of a distant branch of the Fernandez family, heir to the old señor, and is to wed the Señorita Anita. Moreover, I happen to know that he is a personal friend to the Governor.”