As they
sailed away they certainly looked, under the heavy shadow of the banks
and the black-blue of the sky, like an army of men swimming with the
desperate haste of terror, their heads alone above water.
"Now!" cried Anastacio, "to the mountains."
They had brought only pack-horses. There was nothing to do but run, and
Anastacio, driving his entire following ahead of him, sped to cover. It
was not twenty minutes before they heard a sharp volley of musketry, and
if their breath had not been short they would have laughed aloud at the
success of Roldan's strategy. The sky was turning grey as they reached
the straggling outposts of the forest on the mountain. The firing had
ceased. Their ruse had doubtless been discovered.
"We will hide for twenty-four hours and rest," Anastacio said to Roldan,
who was the only person he condescended to hold converse with, although
he allowed Adan to sun himself in his presence. "By that time, too, I
shall know their numbers. If they are many I'll draw them into the
mountains and fire from ambush. If few, they shall have open fight."
"You will let us see it?" asked Roldan, eagerly. "Of course I cannot
fight my own people; but I don't want to be sent to the pueblo, and I do
want to see a fight.
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