“Señor, it is true,” Sergeant Gonzales observed, “that I am but a poor soldier without blue blood in my veins. My father was a butcher and my mother’s father raised swine. But Don Diego Vega has been good enough to term himself my friend. And now that he is in peril, I ride with his other friends to his rescue, and the rescue of his lady! I trust the señor will not misunderstand! I do not seek to equal my betters. If I am not good enough to ride with you, caballero, then I ride by myself! But I ride!”
Don Audre Ruiz bent forward and searched the sergeant’s face by the light of the one torch the company had burning. Then he extended his hand.
“Sergeant Gonzales, it is for me to ask your pardon,” Don Audre said, grandly. “I would not be worthy the blood in my veins did I do less. Any friend of Don Diego Vega is welcome on this expedition. But, have you leave of absence?”
“Ha! I took it!” Sergeant Gonzales roared, grinning broadly. “Captain Ramón was not at the presidio. Being the next in rank, I ordered myself to set out on the trail and get a full report of the occurrence. When I am able to make that report I return.”
“Ride you with us!” Don Audre said. “Thus we have the sanction of the soldiery and official approval of our deeds.”
“I shall approve anything that has to do with causing the death of pirates!” Sergeant Gonzales declared.
The moon disappeared entirely, and the night was dark. They rode forward slowly now, careful not to get off the trail, but they did not have much farther to go. Soon they came to the crest of a hill, and below them they heard the hissing sea, and saw the lights of a ship riding at anchor a short distance from the shore.
Down to the surf they urged their mounts. And there they met with another surprise. For a horseman was awaiting them there in the darkness. Don Audre Ruiz gasped in astonishment when he recognized old Fray Felipe.
“We left you in the town, fray!” he said. “And how is it that we now find you here? Is this some sort of a miracle?”
“I departed the town while you were yet searching for horses,” Fray Felipe explained. “I got a mount for myself and came ahead, because I cannot ride like the wind, as do you young caballeros. It was in my mind that you would make for the trading schooner. I heard you say as much.”