Cruz, and be under no alarm as to the result; this man knows his business." Both the place and circumstances wore much the air of mystery: it looked like "treason, stratagem," and murder; and to our question, "Might not this fellow betray us for the reward?" "No," says the Don; "I have looked to that. He," pointing to our conductor, "is the most noted robber and murderer in Mexico, and is in more danger of losing his head than you. He dare not show himself to the authorities."2 Thus saying, we took affectionate leave of the generous Don, he returning to the city, and we following our silent conductor down the hollow. [343] Chapter Nineteen Head Robber. Coming to the Horses. Signal. Silence. Winding around Precipices. Narrow Paths. Sure-footed Animals. Puente Nacional. Rio Antigua. Lying in Swamp. Hot Breakfast. Lodged in vacant House. Gray-bearded old Man. Meeting Robbers. Enter Antigua. Cavalry Officer and the Gray-bearded old Man. Narrow Escape from the Officers and Guards. Crossing the Ferry, and deceiving the Officer. The Gray-bearded old Man's Exultation. Taking the Road to Manga de Clavo. Secreted for the Night. Head Robber goes into Vera Cruz. Our Location next Day. Vessels at Sea. Sand Storm. Head Robber arrives with Don E. Start for the City. Storm and Separation. Arrival near the City Gates. Suspicions of the Head Robber. Bad Night. Don E. finds us next Day. Our Entry into the City. Parting with Robbers. Valedictory of the Gray-bearded old Man. Our Hiding-place. United States Friends. Dick Barclay. Recapture of our Comrades. A Look into the Castle after the Dénouement. Surprise, Wonder, and Astonishment. The Governor, Guts, and the Children. Silently, and in single file, we followed our dark-looking conductor down the hollow, and in a dismal-looking place, in a second ravine, we came upon his companion, holding by the bridle five mules and horses. A whistle and an answer told that all was right. The head man placed a bridle into each of our hands without saying a word, then drew from his goatskin a bottle, out of which he drank, to satisfy us that it was not poison; then passing it to us, we all drank, and returned it. Stowing it carefully away, he turned to the east, and placing the fore finger of his right hand perpendicularly across [344] his lips, which was a caution for silence, pointed in the direction he faced, and gave |