robbed us, and I'll wager he doesn't want to."

"That may be. But there are two hundred ducats on his head. Some lancers
are stationed in a place I know, a league and a half from here, and
before daybreak I'll bring a few brawny fellows back with me. I'd have
taken his horse away, but the brute's so savage that nobody but Navarro
can go near it."

"Devil take you!" I cried. "What harm has the poor fellow done you that
you should want to inform against him? And besides, are you certain he
is the brigand you take him for?"

"Perfectly certain! He came after me into the stable just now, and said,
'You seem to know me. If you tell that good gentleman who I am, I'll
blow your brains out!' You stay here, sir, keep close to him. You've
nothing to fear. As long as he knows you are there, he won't suspect
anything."

As we talked, we had moved so far from the _venta_ that the noise of the
horse's hoofs could not be heard there. In a twinkling Antonio snatched
off the rags he had wrapped around the creature's feet, and was just
about to climb on its back. In vain did I attempt with prayers and
threats to restrain him.

"I'm only a poor man, senor," quoth he, "I can't afford to lose two
hundred ducats--especially when I shall earn them by ridding the country
of such vermin. But mind what you're about! If Navarro wakes up, he'll
snatch at his blunderbuss, and then look out for yourself! I've gone too
far now to turn back. Do the best you can for yourself!"