"My son Porfirio has not seen Antonio Vaquez," replied Catarina, "and so he does not know from Antonio Vaquez whether the letter has crossed the Rio Grande or not. But it is a time of change."
"De Armijo told me that."
The old woman looked at him very keenly, and drove more smoke of the cigarrito through her nose. Her next words made no reference to de Armijo, but they startled John:
"You look through the loophole to-night, about midnight," she said, "You see something on the mountain side, fire, a torch, it may mean much. Who can tell?"
Excitement flamed up again in John's veins.
"What do you mean, Catarina?" he exclaimed.
"Last night I crawled to the loophole for air. It was bright moonlight, and while I was standing there I thought three human beings passed on the little patch of the mountainside that I can see."
"It is all I know," said Catarina. "I can tell you no more. Now I am concinero (cook) again. Now I go. But watch. There have been many changes. Diego, the soldier, will bring you your food as before. Watch that, too."
"Poison!" exclaimed John aghast.
"No! No! No! Hai Dios (my God), no! But do as I say!"