"What's become of him?"
"He's gone to San Antonio, Johnny."
"To San Antonio!" repeated the judge, with an expression of great alarm overspreading his features.
"To San Antonio—to Padre José," continued Bob; "a Catholic. Beware!"
"A traitor, then!" muttered several.
"Catholic!" exclaimed the judge. The words he had heard seemed to deprive him of all strength. His arms fell slowly and gradually by his side, and Bob was again hanging from the lasso.
"A Catholic! a traitor!" repeated several of the men; "a citizen and a traitor!"
"So it is, men!" exclaimed the judge. "We've no time to lose," continued he, in a harsh, hurried voice; "no time to lose; we must catch him."
"That must we," said several voices, "or our plans are betrayed to the Mexicans."
"After him immediately to San Antonio!" cried the judge with the same desperately hurried manner.