Señor Otega thought first of his wife, and he groaned in agony of spirit.
“What does this outrage upon me mean, for you call me by name, and hence know me?”
“It means that you are a prisoner, and the Señora Otega will be taxed to keep you alive,” was the reply.
Señor Otega now, to his chagrin, saw that he had been lassoed by one man, and he had seized his bridle rein and stood by him, with a revolver leveled at his head.
But there came a flash, a report, and the kidnaper sank in his tracks by the side of the señor’s horse.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE SCOUT’S RETURN.
At first thought Señor Otega had believed that he had been the one shot at, and as his horse set a good example of flight, he determined to encourage him in it, believing there were other outlaws about.
But ere the horse had made half a dozen bounds, a voice called out: