reward of one hundred good Spanish dollars for the one who will bring
him in, or who will tell where he is to be found."

Benito quietly puffed at his cigarrito and Juana, the cooking being
over, threw ashes on the coals.

"If he is still hiding within reach of Santa Anna's arm," said Ned,
"somebody is sure to betray him for the reward."

"I do not know," said Benito, tossing away the stub of his cigarrito.
Then he rose and began work in the field.

Ned went out with the elder boy, Carlos, and caught fish. They did not
return until twilight, and the others were already waiting placidly
while Juana prepared their food. None of them could read; they had
little; their life was of the most primitive, but Ned noticed that they
never spoke cross words to one another. They seemed to him to be
entirely content.

After supper they sat on the ground in front of the adobe hut. The
evening was clear and already many stars were coming into a blue sky.
The surface of the lake was silver, rippling lightly. Benito smoked
luxuriously.

"I saw this afternoon a friend of mine, Miguel Lampridi," he said after
a while. "He had just come down La Viga from the city."

"What news did he bring?" asked Edward.

"They are still searching everywhere for the young Texan who went