terfering in the business of another, kept him
silent.

"Why should I," he thought, "burn my fingers with stirring this young
foreigner's _olla_? Time was when I made a pretty mess enough of my
own!"

So without speech he blew the end off his _cigarillo_ and handed it
courteously to the Carlist soldier.

But Concha had no qualms about breaking the silence. The presence of a
duenna was nowise necessary to the opening of her lips, which last had
also sometimes been silenced without the intervention of a chaperon.

"A fine evening, indeed," she said, smiling down at the youth. "I
presume that you are a foot soldier from the musket you carry. It must
be a fine one from the care you take of it! But as for me, I like
cavaliers best."

"The piece is as veritable a cross-eyed old shrew as ever threw a bullet
ten yards wide of the mark," cried the Alavan, tossing his musket down
upon the short elastic covering of hill-plants on which he stood, and
taking his cigarette luxuriously from his lips. "Nor am I an
infantry-man, as you suppose. Doubtless the _Senorita_ did not observe
my spurs as I came. Of the best Potosi silver they are made. I am a
horseman of the Estella regiment. Our good Carlos the Fifth (whom God
bring to his own!) is not yet rich enough to provide us with much in the
way of a uniform, but a pair of spurs and a _boina_ are within reach of
every man's purse. Or if he has not the money to buy them, they are to
be had at the first tailor's we may chance to pass!"

"And very becoming they are!" said Concha, glancing wickedly at the
youth, who sat staring at her and letting his cigarette go out. "'Tis
small wonder you are a conquering corps! I have often heard tell of the
Red Boinas of Navarre!"

"I think I will betake me down to the camp--I smell supper!" broke in El
Sarria, curtly. He began to think that Mistress Concha had no further
use for him, and, being assured on this point, he set about finding
other business for himself. For, with all his simplicity, Ramon Garcia
was an exceedingly practical man.

"The air is sweet up here; I prefer it to supper," said Concha. "I will
follow you down in a moment. Perhaps this gentleman desires to keep you
company to the camp and canteen."

But it soon appeared that the Vitorian was also impressed by the
marvellous sweetness of the mountain air, and equally desirous of
observing the changeful lights and lengthening shadows which the sun of
evening cast, sapphire a