t him with seeing eyes. Then, I could hardly
stifle an exclamation. It was the King.

He gave me back look for look, smiling that brave and charming smile which
has magic in it to transform an enemy into a loyal servant.

I had my cap off now, and so had Dick, who wore the jaunty air I had seen
him wear in more than one battle.

"I have to thank you both," said the King. "And--not for the first time.
Our cars, as well as ourselves, have met before. Wasn't it--near Biarritz?"

I felt the blood stream up to the roots of my hair. "Your Majesty has a
King's memory for faces," I stammered.

"There are faces one doesn't forget," said he. "But we'll talk of that
presently. Now we have work here."

The King's companion was already down on one knee by the side of the
chauffeur, pouring _aguardiente_ from a flask into the man's half-open
mouth. As for the fellow I had hit, I was sure that he would presently
come round, but little the worse for wear; and I suggested that Dick and I
find a rope in the car, which would bind him and the two other
half-disabled ones. But the King would not let us work alone. He did as
much as we, and more, before we were joined by the young officer who was
his friend.

Discouraged and weak from loss of blood, as well as the loss of their
carbines and their comrades, the wounded brigands made no further fight.
But they were silent, save for a muttered oath or two, and I made up my
mind that the true secret of this morning's work would never be torn from
them.

For there was, of course, a secret. The King, who had not the clue which I
held, saw that, and wondered why the brigands had not wished at first to
shoot us. Plainly, their plan had been to make captives.

The obvious idea was that they would have conveyed their prisoners to some
brigands' nest in the mountains, in the hope of obtaining a rich ransom.
But they had evidently expected an automobile, or they would not have
raised a barricade, just round a sharp corner on a particularly lonely
piece of road.

Could they have been lying in wait for the King? This seemed impossible,
as he had told no one that he was going out, and the expedition had indeed
been made on the impulse, in the company of but one companion beside the
chauffeur. He had intended to have a spin, and discover the state of the
roads as far as practicable on the way to Jerez before turning back for
the procession in the afternoon. And that evening he must return to
Mad