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On the next day it seemed certain to Dene that what he had been fearing had come to pass. The alarm was given early in the evening. He had just returned from a long day's work, and, after a bath and change of clothes, was smoking a pipe on the piazza, when a little movement in the place attracted his notice. Juan was pointing towards the pass--others were following with their eyes his outstretched fingers. There was a murmur of tongues, in which was apparent a note of anxiety. Dene stood up, and, reaching for his glasses, looked steadily along the mountain road towards San Martina.
Almost at the same moment there was a puff of white smoke and a rifle-shot--the sentry at the pass was announcing the arrival of strangers.