dle when she hath ridden unbroken
Andalucian jennets wild over the meadows of Mairena, with no better
bridle than their manes of silk and no other saddle than their glossy
hides, brown as toasted bread!"

As she made this boast Concha patted La Perla's pretty head, who,
recognising a lover of her kind, muzzled an affectionate nose under the
girl's arm.

"Oh, how I wish I could try you," she cried, "were it but for a
moment--darling among steeds, Pearl of Andalucia!"

"La Perla is very gentle," suggested the young cavalier of Alava, as he
thought most subtly. "With me at the mare's head the _Senorita_ might
safely enough ride. But for fear of interruption let us first proceed a
little way out of sight of the camp."

They descended behind the long ridge till the camp was entirely hidden,
and as they did so the heart of the young Vitorian beat fast. They think
plentifully well of themselves, these young men of Alava and Navarre.
And this one felt that he would not disgrace the name of his parent
city.

"Only for a moment, _Senorita_, permit me--there! The _Senorita_ goes up
like a bird! Now wait till I take her head, and beware of jerking the
rein hastily on account of the delicacy of the little lady's mouth. So,
La Perla,--gently and daintily! Consider, jewel of mares, what a
precious burden is now on thy back!"

"A moment, only a moment!" cried Concha, her hands apparently busy about
her hair, "this rebozo is no headgear to ride in. What shall I do? A
handkerchief is not large enough. Ah, _Cavallero_, add to your kindness
by lending me your _boina_! I thank you a thousand times! There! Is that
so greatly amiss?"

And she set the red _boina_ daintily upon her hair, pulling the brim
sideways to shade her eyes from the level evening sun, and smiled down
at the young man who stood at her side.

"Perfect! Beautiful!" cried the young Vitorian, clasping his hands. "The
sight would set on fire the heart of Don Carlos himself. Ah, take care!
Bear easily on that rein. Stop, La Perla! Stop! I beseech you!"

And he started running with all his might. Alas, in vain! For the wicked
Concha, the moment that he had stepped back to take in the effect of the
red _boina_, dropped a heel (into which she had privately inserted half
an inch of pin, taken from her own headgear), upon the flank of La
Perla. The mare sprang forward, with nostrils distended and a fierce
jerk of the head. Concha pulled hard as if in terror, and presently