e a moment, and--I will wait for you!"

A little spark kindles a great fire in a Spanish heart, and the young
man, counting the cost, rapidly decided that the risk was worth running.
The horses of the Estella regiment were picketed in a little hollow a
few hundred yards behind the main camp. It was his duty to watch these
two strangers, of whom one had already gone back to the camp, while as
to the other--well, Adrian Zumaya of the province of Alava felt at that
moment that he could cheerfully devote the rest of his life to watching
that other.

In a moment more he had laid down his musket at Concha's feet, and set
off as fast as he could in the direction of the horses, keeping well out
of sight in the trough of a long roller of foot-hill until he was close
to the cavalry lines, and could smell the honest stable-smell which in
the open air mingled curiously with those of aromatic thyme and resinous
juniper.

In five minutes he was back, riding his best and sitting like a Centaur.

Concha's eyes glistened with pleasure, and she ran impulsively forward
to pat the cream-coloured mare, a clean-built, well-gathered,
workmanlike steed.

Now the young man was very proud of the interest this pretty Andalucian
girl was showing in his equipment and belongings to the exclusion of
those of his comrades. Perhaps he might have been less pleased had he
known that the young lady's interest extended even to the gun he had
left behind him, the charge of which she had already managed to extract
with deft and competent fingers.

"La Perla she is called," he cried with enthusiasm, "and sure none other
ever better deserved the name! I wish we of the camp possessed a
side-saddle that the _Senorita_ might try her paces. She has the easiest
motion in the world. It is like riding in a great lady's coach with
springs or being carried in a Sedan-chair. But she is of a delicate
mouth. Ah, yes--if the _Senorita_ mounted, it would be necessary to
remember that she must not bear hard upon the reins. Then would La Perla
of a certainty take the bit between her teeth and run like the devil
when Father Mateo is after him with a holy water syringe!"

Concha smiled as the young fellow dismounted, flinging himself off with
the lithe grace of youth and constant practice.

"You forget," she said, "I also am of the Province of Flowers. Do not be
afraid. La Perla and I will not fall out. A side-saddle--any saddle!
What needs Concha Cabezos with side-sad