Part 22 (2/2)

So to be done to him different froot apart the other three drew off to a distance, and stood as if deliberating It must be about himself

And about him it was--the way to dispose of him

”I hardly knoe're to do with the little beast,” said Rivas

”Leave hiood as certain, and too soon for our safety If we tie hih away _Oiga_! They're beating up the cover we've just come out of Yes; they're in the _chapparal_ now!”

It was even so, as could be told by the occasional call of a bugle sounding skir him, too?” asked Kearney

”Sure we could do that But it wouldn't be safe either They ht find their way here at once But if they didn't find it at all, and no one ca--”

”Ah! I see,” interrupted the Irish becaht perish, you mean?”

”Just so No doubt the wretch deserves it From all I've heard of hiht to be his executioners”

Sentiht have been expected from the lips of a bandit!

”No, certainly not,” rejoined Kearney, hastening to signify his approval of them

”What do _you_ think we should do with hi himself to the Texan, who quite comprehended the difficulty

”Wal', Cap; 't 'ud be marciful to knock hiasp it out with a stopper in his mouth; as ye say the Mexikin thinks he mout But thar ain't no need for eyther Why not toat hi? Ef he should bother us I kin heist hily burden he'd be, tho' 'tain't for the weight o' hiestion was entertained, no other course see safe, except at the probable sacrifice of the creature's life And that none of them contemplated for a moment In fine, it was deter to an end, Rivas and the Irishht up the pieces of chain still attached to their ankles, eachthe end of his own fast round his wrist, so as not to impede their onward ain, the Mexican, of course, foremost, Kearney at his heels After hi the dwarf, as a shower of his betraying them He could shout and still have been heard by those behind But an expressive gesture of the Texan admonished him that if he made a noise, it would be the last of him

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

A SUSPICION OF CONNIVANCE

”Suspicious, to say the least of it! If a coincidence, certainly the strangest in my experience, or that I've ever heard of A score of other carriages passing, and they to have chosen that one of all!

_Carrai_! it cannot have been chance--iistrate of Mexico, after receiving a report of what had occurred in the Calle de Plateros He had as yet only been furnished with a general account of it; but particularising the prisoners who had escaped, with their e they had seized upon He had been told, also, that there were two ladies in it, but needed not telling who they were

All this was er who came post-haste to the Palace, soon after the occurrence He had been sent by Colonel Santander, who could not co the Hussars into their saddles for the pursuit--for he it ho led it And never did erness to overtake theht

Not , less was that of Santa Anna hi over it He, too, had seen the two Texans with Rivas in the sewers; the latter a well-known eneerous rival in love He had glanced exultingly at hier past The rebel proscribed, and for years sought for, had at length been found; was in his poith life forfeit, and the detero, and now the dooain!

But surely not? With a squadron of cavalry in pursuit, canon boo, every military post and picket for miles round on the alert, surely four e, could not eventually get off

Itwas possible, as Santa Anna had reason to know A man of many adventures, he had hi ene the cud of disappoint all the time to his chair Every now and then he rose to his feet,excursions round the room, repeatedly touched the bell, to inquire whether any news had been received of the fugitive party