hadowed face, her black eyes like
stars.

"Si--dat vas eet. I vas de coward; I just runs avay so 'fraid of de
fight. I no like de fight von leetle bit. But I know you, senor; you
vant to stay here, an' have de fun. You Americano an' like dat ver'
mooch. I feel of de big arm, so, an' I know eet ees bettah dat you be
here. I mooch like please you, senor."

He clasped her hand where it rested small and white against his sleeve,
hiding it completely within his own great fist; when he spoke she could
mark the tremble in the deep voice.

"Y-you 're a m-mighty fine girl," he managed to say, simply, "but we
g-got ter go now. I-I reckon yer b-b-better walk fer a ways, as the
p-pony will step lighter."

"I not care, senor," softly. "Eet be nice to valk; I nevah 'fraid vid
you."

Brown led the way forward cautiously across the open space, one strong
hand firm on the pony's bit, the other barely touching her dress as
though it were something sacred. She endeavored to discern his face in
the faint starlight, but the low-drawn hat brim shaded it into black
lines, revealing nothing. The light, easy words she sought to speak,
hoping thus to keep him from more serious talk, would not come to her
lips. There was so much of silence and mystery on every side, so much
of doubt in this venture, that, in spite of her gay manner, every nerve
tingled with excitement. Glancing up at him she bit her lips in
embarrassment. It was Stutter who finally found voice, his mind
drifting back to what she had lately said in carelessness.

"Y-yer said that the p-p-pony never l-lied like a man," he began
doubtfully. "Yer d-did n't mean that f-fer me, did yer?"

There was something so deeply pathetic about the tone in which he asked
this as to hurt her, and the slender fingers still clasping his sleeve
suddenly closed more tightly.

"Senor, you mus' not say dat; you mus' not tink dat. No, no! I speak
that only in fun, senor--nevah I believe dat, nevah. You good man,
more good as Mercedes; she not vort' von leetle bit de lofe you say to
her, but she feel mooch shame to have you tink dat she mean you ven she
speak such ting in fun."

He halted suddenly, all remembrance of their surroundings, their
possible peril, as instantly erased from his mind. He merely saw that
girl face upturned to his in the starlight, so fair and pleading, he
merely heard that soft voice urging her unworthiness, her sorrow. A
great, broad-shouldered giant