ondesa; then hasten up the mountain
to warn the imperilled ones. As good luck would have it, he knew the
place they were in. Son of a _carbonero_, when a boy he had helped his
father in the charcoal-burning business; was familiar with the mountain
forests, and their paths, and had more than once been at the abandoned
monastery. He could easily find the way to it. But the difficulty was
to get back to his master's house--even stir from the spot on which he
stood. Soon as receiving their orders the two Hussars had dismounted,
and tied up their horses, one on each side of the rocky embayment; they
themselves, with their curious charge, occupying the space between. It
was not possible to pass without being seen by them, and as surely
seized.

So long as he kept his place he might feel comparatively safe. The cove
was of a three-cornered shape, with luckily a deep dark cleft at its
inner angle, into which he had already squeezed himself. While the moon
remained low, and the cliff made shadow, there was little likelihood of
their seeing him, unless they came close up. Still, the situation was
aught but pleasant, and ere long became irksome in the extreme; the
conversation to which he was compelled to listen making it so.

The two _Husares_ did not seem, to be in the best of temper; the
corporal more especially showing signs of dissatisfaction. Groping
about for a stone to seat himself on, he grumbled out--

"_Maddita_! What a bore, having to stay here till they get back.
Heaven knows when that will be. Like enough not before morning. I
thought we were going to pass the night in San Augustin, and had hopes
of a chat with that _muchachita_ at the house where the colonel visits."

"Pepita, you mean--lady's maid to the Dona Luisa Valverde?"

"Of course I mean her, the pretty dear; and have reason to think she is
a bit sweet upon me."

Josh's heart was on fire--his blood boiling. It was with difficulty he
restrained himself from springing out upon the soldier and clutching him
by the throat. He succeeded, however, in keeping his place, if not his
temper; for it would have been sheer madness to show himself there and
then. What came after quite tranquillised him.

"Well, _cabo_" returned he of the rank and file, seemingly without fear
of speaking plain to the non-commissioned officer, "I should be sorry to
dash your hopes; but as a friend I can't help saying I don't think you
have much chance in that quarter.