〃It was perfectly docile the whole time we had it out at the estancia。 The cook's kid used to go right in the pen and play with it by the hour。〃
〃When； two months ago？〃 Manning said bitterly。 〃Maybe it was growing up then。 It sure came of age tonight！〃 He cut the discussion short； it being largely a spilt…milk matter by now。 〃e on； there's no use standing here wrangling about it。 I came down here to get you； because I thought you might be a help in getting it back。〃
〃I've got a riata here in the back of the truck I was going to tie it up with on the trip back；〃 Cardozo assented。 〃I'll bring it along； it might e in handy。〃
〃It disappeared in there somewhere；〃 Manning told him； as they made their way back to the hubbub on foot。 〃Where d'you think it lit to？〃
〃To know that； one would have to be a jaguar；〃 was the ranchman's dry answer。
When they returned； order and organization were rapidly being brought out of the chaos。 Order； but not any jaguar。 The three gendarmes had already bee five； and the five in no time at all became seven。 Next a lieutenant of police arrived to take charge of this safari on city streets。 Next； even one of the municipal fire trucks showed up； but this solely so that the beam of its highpowered searchlight； the strongest available on any piece of apparatus； could be trained into the alley to show them what they were doing。 It lit it up with a strange pale blueness； making the weird affair seem even weirder。 Finally…but this last of all and not for long hours yet…the curator of the zoo was sent for； to give technical advice and make suggestions； he presumably being an expert in such matters。
The obvious things were done first。 The public at large was cleared out of the alley； with a great flourishing of police batons and repeated warnings of： 〃Move back； now。 Nobody allowed in here； it's dangerous。 It may suddenly reappear when least expected and attack。〃 The majority of them needed no second urging。 There was a confused milling about for a few moments； and then the alley was clear。 Ropes were then stretched across it at both ends； to keep it that way。
The next step was a wholesale ordering out of all inmates who lived along it； for a house…to…house search was impending。 Again the order didn't have to be repeated。 There was a panicky mass exodus from the disreputable warrens all along it； with bird cages； cooking utensils； and even potted plants。
These people were questioned personally by the police lieutenant as they were filed through。 For the most part fruitlessly。 There was no single case in which anyone had seen where it went。 It had flashed through so suddenly that they all arrived at their windows too late； the clamor of the crowd in its wake was what had drawn them to look out； not any sound the beast had made。 Two or three were found who admitted they had seen it ing in the distance…although they hadn't known it for what it was； had taken it in the gloom for a large； rabid black dog。 But even these were no help； though they had been right out in midalley at the time； they all gave the same answer。 〃Yes； I saw it ing toward me up ahead； and knew it was something bad because of all the hollering behind it。 Where did it go？ You think I waited to find out？ I dove into the nearest doorway and slammed the door shut behind me。 By the time I looked out again； it wasn't there any more。〃
At last； near the tail end of the procession of refugees； was found a little girl of ten or so who； when her turn came； promised to be of some help。 For a moment they thought they had something。 She had been at the window in time to see it； she insisted proudly； because she had been leaning out of it for a long time before that。 〃I saw something big and black ing down our street； from way up there。〃
An alert conclave formed about her for a moment。 〃Where did it go？ Where did it disappear to？〃
〃I don't know。 I ran inside to call my brother to e and see it； and when we came back it wasn't there any more。〃
The conclave split open again； like an overripe pod。
It would have to be ferreted out by a house…tohouse search； the lieutenant in charge decided。 The only tenable assumption left was that it had found some doorway； crevice； gap； somewhere along these moldering walls； had sidled in； and was still lurking somewhere in one of the shadowy interiors； perhaps in a basement； perhaps in some unused flue； perhaps in the cavity under a staircase…there was no electricity anywhere along this cranny； inside or out…breathing latent death。
The search began from the Alameda end…it was nearing eight by then…and it was well on the way toward midnight by the time the posse emerged from the last house of all； flanking the Plaza de los Mбrtires…empty…handed。 The search had failed as pletely as the original pursuit had。 It had been thorough； even if not successful。 They had gone from top to bottom and from bottorn to top of every building along the way； flashing lights into corners； tapping walls； poking aside crates and boxes and litter； revolvers and stout clubs ready at hand to deal with it if it should turn； up。 But it didn't。
The crowd behind the ropes at each end； peering down the hazy blue pathway of the fire…fighting headlight； would hold its collective breath each time while they were inside； the wink of torches through the windows showing their progress tier by tier。 Then they would e out again； report； 〃Not in that one；〃 to their manding officer； the structure would be given a clean bill of health； and they would go trooping into the next。 Finally the dramatic effect began to wear off； after the numerous repetitions。 Here and there someone turned away and went about his business； it was getting late。 Someone in the thinning ranks of onlookers was heard to suggest half facetiously that maybe it had esconced itself in the back of some cart or vehicle that had been left standing there with its rear open； been inadvertently shut in by the driver on returning a moment later and all unknowingly transported out of the neighborhood。 The only trouble with this theory was that there had been no such fortuitous conveyance in the alley at the time； they could be sure of this for the very good reason that the place wasn't wide enough to admit anything but a pushcart。 Someone else suggested that maybe it had gone up in a balloon； and drew a big laugh。 A spirit of skepticism began to make its appearance among the last ditch spectators； cheated of the excitement they had expected and taking it out that way。 〃Maybe it went into the church to say its prayers！〃 someone called down the alley through cupped hands。
The little church he had reference to sat at the end of a small cul…de…sac； down toward the Plaza de los Mбrtires end。 The alley bent sharply in direction several times during its short length。 At one of these bends it forked in two； in appearance though not in actuality。 One branch of the fork was simply a brief dead end； ing up against a wafer…thin chapel； San Sulpicio； dating from colonial days。 In other words； simply an inset； a niche； lying off the main course of the alley； only a few meters in extent。
This chapel was the least likely of all places along there for it to have found refuge。 For one thing； it was no longer in use； having been abandoned years before at the time of some damage received during some long…forgotten earthquake。 Its stout mahogany door； however； was still intact； it took them the better part of half an hour to force it with crowbar and chisel。 It had been unopened for as long as the memory of the oldest dweller around there could stretch。 And within； when they had dislodged it finally； they found simplY a desolate litter of rotted pews and fallen plaster within a roofless shell through which the stars peered。 It could neither have got in here in the first place； nor； if it once had； have got out again from the foursquare stone cell that was all the place offered。
They came out again； brushing their whitened sleeves； coughing and sneezing； one man nursing a scorpion bite on the back of his hand。
Moments later； the Plaza de los Mбrtires had been reached； the search was perforce at an end。
The sensation…hungry idlers bega