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 General Garvanza; they are riding day and night in search of the three of you."

"They were at the door twice today," Felipe said.

"That is to be expected."

"We had anxiety of you, Pablo, so long on the way. We thought you had been held because it is known you are my friend."

"It is a slow business to hear many stories, and get hold of the handles of the true ones," the old man replied. "Well, I encountered a snake in the road."

"Of a color, Pablo?"

"The devil's color, you might say. Simon Villalobo is abroad with Don Abrahan's gold in his hand."

"He brought it to a poor market," said Felipe with such emphatic confidence that admitted no greater expression of praise for the old man's fidelity.

"He is following, a thought of Don Abrahan's promised reward, of the reward posted in the plaza, in his coyote's head. The ground has opened under the feet of fools, I have heard it said."

"It may swallow this one," Felipe returned. "There will be fools enough to stock the world, even without Simon."