Emerging from the cavern, they made their way slowly, and as silently as possible, down the slope to the floor of the cañon, and along this they hurried, the Indian leading, the caballero walking beside his horse.
Out upon a plain trail that ran to the south the caballero mounted, with the gentile behind him. At a trot they went along the trail, stopping now and then to listen for sounds of other horsemen, the caballero waiting at every likely ambush until the Indian had made an investigation.
For a time they followed another arroyo, finally to come into a broad valley where there were fields of grain and horses and cattle. At the crest of the slope lights glittered in the buildings of the rancho.
But the Indian did not indicate that they were to go toward the lights. He whispered directions in the caballero’s ear, and they circled the buildings, and so came to the bank of a creek flowing from a group of springs. Down this they made their way to a small basin. A voice hailed them; the gentile answered; they went on. And then they turned the base of a hill and came within sight of two score campfires and groups of teepees, where half-naked gentiles danced around the flames, and others squatted on the ground watching.
In an instant they were surrounded and questions hurled at them, menacing at first, better-natured when the caballero’s guide made himself heard and gave the identity of the man with whom he rode. A young chief ordered his followers to one side, and himself took the caballero’s bridle, and led the horse past the fires to a teepee at the end of the row. There the caballero dismounted and sat upon a skin spread on the ground. No word was spoken while a man brought out food and wine and the caballero ate.
One by one other chiefs made their appearance to sit before the fire in a circle. In the distance groups of warriors gathered to look at their leaders and talk in low tones.
“We have had a messenger, señor,” a chief spoke, finally. “He came from the mission at nightfall. All is known to the soldiers, this man says. They have orders to capture you, dead or alive. The Governor is coming south with a large force. Our friends in the north wait for us to act. And we await the word from you.”
“You will be guided by me in this matter?” the caballero asked.
“If you counsel immediate attack, señor. What is to be gained now by delay? The soldiers from the north may arrive within three days. If we strike now, we succeed before they come.”
Grunts of approval came from the others, and the caballero, looking around the circle, read in the faces there that the words of the spokesman expressed the sentiments of all.