This remarkable man met his match in Lieutenant Kuerlein, a Swiss soldier of fortune, who had been an officer of the old Guardia Civil of the Republic and was retained by the Americans because of his knowledge of the country and the people. To Kuerlein was assigned the job of taking away from the Lombardo tie the Spanish rifles, with which the native baron had equipped his followers. Kuerlein went alone, equipped with two revolvers, one of which was concealed, and a compass. 