"Yes, Señor, we reached there soon after midday, and the men refused to travel any further. He picked out the best of the horses and went on."
"How many men went with him?"
"Four postillions and his two servants who were in the galera with him."
"Do you know who this gentleman was?"
"I heard his servants speak of him as Don Roderigo, and I have seen him before in Buenos Aires. I think he must be some powerful Señor, from the respect that the Major showed to him."
"Did you hear where he was going?"
"To Cordova, Señor. He was very angry that we would not march on yesterday, but some of the men could not sit their horses any longer."
As Evaña finished his examination the second party of the dragoons came up, driving a mob of horses before them. The whole of the dragoons dismounted and stood in a circle round these horses, while each man in his turn caught one. When all were supplied they turned the horses they had previously ridden adrift, and saddled these fresh ones.
Meantime Evaña had walked to where the body of Asneiros lay stretched on the ground in the charge of a dismounted dragoon. This man he told to search the pockets and give him all the papers he could find. The man found few papers on the body, but he found a leather belt round the waist, filled with gold coins. Evaña took the papers, but handing the belt to Viana told him to distribute the money among the men of both troops. He did not think it necessary to give any of it to the men of Don Andres, for they were busy plundering the slain for themselves.
Evaña was not long in making up his mind what to do. Stiff and fatigued as he was, and sore with the bruises he had received when his horse fell back with him, he yet determined to carry on his pursuit himself. Telling Viana to select twenty men from his troop, he gave up the command of the rest to the captain of the other troop; then, with many thanks to Don Andres Zapiola for his opportune assistance, he turned his horse's head to the north and galloped away, attended only by Viana, and a guide well acquainted with all the roads through Santa Fe, who had been found for him by Don Andres.