"But if he tries to escape, señor—"
"Don't be a fool," snapped Holcomb curtly.
The captain was troubled in his heart. Had he saved this fine young fellow to be the plaything of old Pasquale's vengeance? He knew well enough what would happen to the Arizonian if Ruth escaped. But as long as there was life there was a chance. Something might turn up yet to save him.
When Pasquale found that only an insignificant peon Pedro Cabenza had been taken in his dragnet, he exploded with fury. He ordered the man shot against the nearest wall at once.
Culvera turned the prisoner so that the moon fell full upon his face. He looked searchingly at him. Yeager knew that he was discovered. He spoke in English.
"Good-evening, Colonel Culvera. You've guessed right, but you've guessed it a little too late."
"What is this? Who is this man?" demanded Pasquale harshly.
"The man Yeager, who escaped from you two weeks since," explained Ramon. "He has been in camp with us over a week arranging this girl's escape."
The old general let out a bellow of rage. He strode forward to make sure for himself. Roughly he seized his prisoner by the hair of the head and twisted the face toward him.
"Sorry I had to leave you so abruptly last time, general. Did you have a pleasant night?" taunted Yeager.