“No, señor; and for a reason of the best. He knows nothing, and all his days and nights were spent searching secretly for the entrance to that dungeon,––if it is a dungeon! He thought I should know, and made threats against me because I would not tell. Myself, I think José Perez tells no one that hiding place, not even Conrad, though Conrad has long wanted it! I told Don José that if he told that he was as good as a dead man, and I believe it. But now,” and she shook her head fatefully, “now he is sure to get it!”
“But he swears he must get back to Soledad by sunrise for a trap is set. A trap for whom?” persisted Kit.
Doña Jocasta shook her head uncomprehendingly.
“God forbid he should get free to put those wolves on my track; then indeed I would need a knife, señor! He held them back from me on the trail, but now he would not hold them back.”
“But the trap, señora?” repeated the puzzled Kit. “That man was in earnest,––dead in earnest! He did not know I was listening, his words were only for an Indian,––for Isidro. Who could he trap? Was he expecting anyone at Soledad?”
Doña Jocasta looked up with a little gasp of remembrance.
“It is true, a courier did come two days ago from the south, and Cavayso told me he meant to take me to the desert and hide me before Don José arrived. Also more mules and wagons came in. And Elena scolded about men who came to eat but not to work. Yes, they smoked, and talked, and talked, and waited! I never thought of them except to have a great fear. Yesterday after the lad brought me that letter I had not one thought, but to count the hours, and watch the sun. But it may be Cavayso told the truth, and that Don José was indeed coming. He told me he had promised Perez to lose me in the Arroya Maldioso if in no other way, and he had to manage that I never be seen again.”
“Arroya Maldioso?” repeated Kit, “I don’t understand.”
“It is the great quicksand of Soledad, green things grow and blossom there but no living thing can cross over. It is beautiful––that little arroya, and very bad.”
“I had heard of it, but forgot,” acknowledged Kit, “but that is not the trap of which he is raving now. It is some other thing.”