"Here in the camp of Cabrera we are watched, followed, suspected. Do you
see that fellow yonder with the smartly set _boina_? He is a miller's
son from near Vitoria in Alava. Well, he hath been set to watch that
none of us leave the camp unattended. I will wager that if you and I
were to wander out fifty yards farther, yonder lad would be after us in
a trice!"

"Ah!" said Concha, in a brown study. "Yes--he is not at all a
bad-looking boy, and thinks excessively well of himself--like some
others I could mention. Now, El Sarria, can you tell me in which
direction lies Vera, the headquarters of General Elio?"

"That can I!" said El Sarria, forgetting his caution. And he was about
to turn him about and point it out with his hand, when Concha stopped
him.

"The miller's son is craning his neck to look," she whispered: "do not
point. Turn about slowly, and the third stone you throw, let it be in
the direction of Vera!"

El Sarria did as he was bid, and after the third he continued to project
stones Vera-wards, explaining as he did so--"Up yonder reddish cleft the
road goes, a hound's path, a mere goat's slide, but it is the directest
road. There is open ground to the very foot of the ascent. Many is the
time I have ridden thither, God forgive me, on another man's beast! Then
cast him loose and left him to find his way home as best he could. There
are good hiding-places on the Sierra de Moncayo, up among the red
sandstone where the caves are deep and dry, and with mouths so narrow
and secret that they may be held by one man against fifty."

Concha did not appear to be greatly interested in El Sarria's
reminiscences. Even guileless Ramon could not but notice her wandering
glances. Her eyes, surveying the landscape, lighted continually upon the
handsome young Vitorian in the red _boina_, lifted again sharply, and
sought the ground.

At this El Sarria sighed, and decided mentally that, with the exception
of his Dolores, no woman was to be trusted. If not at heart a rake, she
was by nature a flirt. And so he was about to leave Concha to her own
devices and seek Rollo, when Concha suddenly spoke.

"Don Ramon," she said, "shall we walk a few hundred yards up the
mountain away from the camp and see if we are really being watched?"

El Sarria smiled grimly to himself and rose. The stratagem was really,
he thought, too transparent, and his impression was strengthened when
Concha presently added, "I will not ask you to remain