house, that the conference, which must take
place immediately, might be unheard by older ears.

"Listen, my friend," he said rapidly, interrupting Adan's voluble
hospitality. "The soldiers are out for conscripts--"

"Ay, yi!--"

"Now listen, and don't talk until I am done. I WILL NOT be drafted as
if I had no will of my own, and rot in a barrack while others enjoy
life. Neither will you if you have the spirit of a Pardo and are worthy
to be the friend of Roldan Castanada. So--I fly. Do you
understand?--and you go with me. We will dodge these servants of a
tyrant government the length and breadth of the Californias. When the
danger is over for this year we will return--not before. Now, you will
ask me to go to my room as soon as possible after you have given me
some supper, for I am tired and want sleep. You also will take a nap.
When all is quiet I shall call you and we will start."

Adan had listened to this harangue with bulging eyes and tongue rolling
over his teeth. But Roldan never failed to carry the day. He was a born
leader. Adan's was the will that bent; but his talent for good
comradeship and his quiet self-respect saved him from servility.

In appearance he was in sharp contrast to the slender Roldan, of the
classic features and fiery eyes. Short, roly-poly, with a broad,
good-natured face, his attire was also unmarked by the extreme elegance
which always characterised Roldan. In summer he wore calico
small-clothes, in winter unmatched articles of velvet or cloth, and an
old sombrero without silver.

"Ay! yi!" he gasped. "Ay, Roldan! Holy Mary! But you are right. You
always are. And so clever! I will go. Sure, sure. Come now, or they
will think we conspire."

Roldan dismounted, and was warmly greeted by the family. The girls rose
and courtesied, blushing with the coquetry of their race. Roldan cared
little for girls at any time, and to-night was doubly abstracted, his
ear straining at every distant hoof-beat. He retired as early as he
politely could, but not to sleep. Indeed, he became so nervous that he
could not wait until the family slept.

"Better to brave them, Adan," he said to his more phlegmatic friend,
"than that sergeant, should he get here before we leave. Come, come,
let us go."

They dropped out of the window and stole to the corral where the riding
horses were kept. It was surrounded by a high wall, and the gate was
barred with iron; but they managed to remove the bars without noise,