be confronted by Pedro Montero, his misgivings on that

point had considerably increased. The guerrillero brother of the general, the Pedrito of popular speech, had a reputation of his own. He wasn't safe to deal with. Sotillo had vaguely planned seizing not only the treasure but the town itself, and then negotiating at leisure. But in the face of facts learned from the chief engineer (who had frankly disclosed to him the whole situation) his audacity, never of a very dashing kind, had been replaced by a most cautious hesita- tion. "An army an army crossed the mountains under Pedrito already," he had repeated, unable to hide his ternation. "If it had not been that I am given the news by a man of your position I would never have believed it. Astonishing!" "An armed force," corrected the engineer, suavely. His aim was attained. It was to keep Sulaco clear of any armed occupation for a few hours longer, to let those whom fear impelled leave the town. In the gen- eral dismay there were families hopeful enough to fly upon the road towards Los Hatos, which was left open

ie withdrawal of the armed rabble under Sefiores

Fuentes and Gumacho to Rincon, with their enthusi- astic welcome for Pedro Montero. It was a hasty and risky exodus, and it was said that Hernandez, occu- pying with his band the woods about Los Hatos, was receiving the fugitives. That a good many people he knew were contemplating such a flight had been well know to the chief engineer. ther Corbelan's efforts in the cause of that most

pious robber had not been altogether fruitless. The