CHAPTER X.
SANTIAGO'S STRATEGY.
Guadalupe was a girl of spirit. Through her veins flowed the blood offighting ancestors, and, when she felt herself so suddenly seized upon,she had no mind to give up her freedom without a struggle.
Wrenching herself free, she gave one scream. Before she could repeat it,she heard Tanto utter a fierce growl, and the next minute felt hercaptor fall.
Turning quickly to discover what had happened, she saw that Tanto hadgrasped her assailant by the throat, and that man and dog were engagedin a fierce fight upon the ground at her feet.
Even while she looked the man ceased to struggle and lay still.
Calling to the dog, Guadalupe started to leave the spot, but wasprevented by the appearance of two more men. They both started back withsurprise, at sight of the girl and dog, and the lifeless figure at theirfeet.
Turning from the prostrate form, Tanto drew back, facing the newcomers.
"_Caramba!_" exclaimed one. "Shoot the brute. I've left my pistol in thecave."
"And I, too," said the other. "I have nothing but my knife."
"Well, then, use your knife. I'll take care of the girl," and headvanced upon Guadalupe.
But Tanto's blood was up. Everyone but Guadalupe was an enemy. As hestood by the girl's side, with lips drawn back and every hair erect, hewas a foe to be considered. The taste of blood had made him wild. Beforethe speaker had taken five steps, the dog was at his throat. The forceof the attack carried both dog and man to the ground, where for someseconds they fought desperately. But the unarmed peon was no match forthe great beast. In a few minutes the conflict was over, and a secondfigure lay stretched upon the earth, while Guadalupe--unnerved by thesight--covered her face with her hands.
She was brought back to herself by a soft voice saying: "Call off yourdog, _senorita_, and I will help you to get away from here."
Guadalupe raised her eyes in surprise.
"You need have no fear," the speaker continued. "I am not making war onwomen. Call off your dog, or I shall be obliged to kill him," andSantiago, for it was he, drew a revolver from his breast.
Seeing that the man was armed, when he had declared to his companionthat he was not, Guadalupe perceived that he must be friendly, and socalled to the dog.
At first Tanto was not inclined to mind, but, after a second command, heleft his last victim and placed himself at Guadalupe's side.
"You can see I could kill your dog," explained Santiago. "I could havekilled him before. But I have no love for these," and he gave the twobodies a contemptuous kick. "Keep your dog at your side and follow mebefore someone else comes."
Even as Santiago spoke, they heard voices, and other men came crashingthrough the bushes some distance away.
"This way," said Santiago, and he started in an opposite direction.
But they had no more than reached level ground than they heard voices onthe other side.
"It is impossible for us to get away without being seen," said Santiago."Can you send the dog home?"
"Yes."
"Then do so, and trust to me."
Bending over Tanto, the girl said in a firm, low voice: "Go home, Tanto!Go home and bring my father!"
The dog looked at her earnestly for a moment and then at Santiago.
"Go!" again said Guadalupe, and she reached out and took Santiago'shand. "No one is going to harm me."
The dog gave a low whine, as though he perfectly understood, and boundedaway through the underbrush. As he disappeared, Santiago fired hisrevolver into the air and advanced toward the approaching footsteps. Amoment later a dozen of the smugglers appeared.
"What's the meaning of this shooting?" asked the leader.
"Go to the top of yonder mound and see for yourself," was Santiago'sreply.
Several of the men hastened to follow the instructions. They scrambledup the mound, where they recoiled in fright at the sight of theircomrades.
"How did it happen?" asked the leader, as he returned to where Santiagoand Guadalupe were standing.
"Ask the girl," replied Santiago. "All I know is that I came up from theroom below to bring an order to Louis and Leocadio, who are on guard atthis place. I found them both as you see them. The girl and her dog wererunning away as fast as they could. I fired a shot at the dog, butmissed him. I captured the girl, and am going to hold her for a ransom."
The leader looked at him incredulously. Then to Guadalupe he said:
"How could a dog kill two men?"
Guadalupe looked at Santiago, but made no reply.
"Tell him," said Santiago. "Tell Fillipe how it happened."
"I don't know," declared Guadalupe. "One man seized me and Tanto sprangupon him. A few minutes later the other came."
"Who is the girl?" asked Fillipe.
"She belongs at the Hacienda del Rio," replied Santiago.
"_Asi!_" exclaimed Fillipe. "This is good news. Don Rafael will be gladto get her. Come along!"
He seized Guadalupe by the arm and started to lead her away, butSantiago interfered.
"Hands off!" he said. "She belongs to me. I'll take her to Don Rafael,and, if there is any ransom, I shall have it."
Although Santiago's words were spoken in a low, soft tone, Fillipeobeyed, and the entire party left the place and proceeded by acircuitous route to the rear of the little chain of foothills whichbordered the river. After a walk of some five or ten minutes theyapproached a clump of bushes in front of which a Mexican was standingguard. He stepped aside, and the men entered the bushes, which Guadalupesoon discovered concealed a door in the hillside. At a knock fromFillipe the door was opened, disclosing a passageway through which themen and their captive proceeded, closing the door behind them.
They had no sooner disappeared than two figures emerged stealthily frombehind a jutting rock and threw themselves upon the guard, whom theyquickly overcame and bound.
The two figures were Donald and Adrian.