“You did not know it? The old man beside the roadway at San Luis Rey de Francia sent out the warning. This sergeant told the frailes there that the conspiracy was known, that the Governor was coming south with soldiers, and that in the north leaders had been seized and thrown in prison to be shot. But Captain Fly-by-Night, the greatest leader of all, was at San Diego de Alcalá and was to be taken immediately, before he could join the Indians—that was the word, señor. Thank Heaven you were not taken!”
“So they have orders to take Captain Fly-by-Night, eh?” cried the caballero. “Now I know why those troopers were eager to catch me.”
“What did you think, señor?”
“I had an argument at San Diego de Alcalá with the man they call Rojerio Rocha, who arrived this morning—a sword argument, gentile—and I ran him through. I supposed the soldiers sought me because of that. Catch Captain Fly-by-Night, eh?” The caballero rose and paced the floor of the cave, laughing to himself so loudly that the gentile before him cautioned silence. “So all is known, eh? I am to be taken dead or alive, I suppose? Now I am, indeed, cut off from all reputable persons.”
“Then now is the time to strike the blow, señor. We can be victorious if we strike it before the Governor comes. We can wipe the mission and presidio from the earth, señor! We can devastate every rancho! And when we start, the word will run up the coast, and at other posts and missions our friends will strike. We cannot fail, señor! Give the word—give the word to-night!”
“If I counsel that you wait?”
“Why delay? Other leaders have been seized. If we do not strike successfully, suspected gentiles and neophytes will be slain by hundreds by the Governor’s men. It is all in your hands now, señor. You will be like a king! Give the word to-night!”
“If I think it best to delay——?”
“I am afraid, señor, that the men will not do as you order, in that case. They are frightened now. They know they are lost if they do not strike immediately. They may even turn against you——”
“Hah!”