“Say nothing, even to your wife, of this attack on you to-night. I mean that no one must know of this attack on you, señor.”
“But why, Señor Cody?”
“This man was sent to do this work. If he does not return to report, they will not know what has become of him, for I shall strap his body upon his horse, which must be near, take the animal to the lake, lead him in, and thence along the shore in the water to a spot near my ranch.
“I will search the body for any telling articles there may be on it, and will hide away his saddle and bridle.”
“But the horse, señor?”
“I will give him into the keeping of my men for a day, and after they have branded him and disguised him, his own master, if alive, would not know him, and one of them will ride him, so he will not go back to his home, at least, not just now.”
“You know what you are about, Señor Cody?”
“I hope so. Now we will find that horse, mount his master on him, and I’ll lead him back through the timber, not in the trail.”
“And your horse, señor?”
“Is trained, señor, and will keep always in the trail as I start him until we reach the lake shore, and there I will mount him.”