abolical joy
at the victory.

A little more, and this misanthropy had become madness; but a change was
at hand. I was sitting one night in the garden: it was already the hour
when my "patrol" should have begun; but latterly I had grown indifferent
to the call of duty: as Hope died out within me, so did Fear also, and
I cared little for the risk of punishment,--nay, more, a kind of
rebellious spirit was gaining upon me, and I wished for some accident
which might bring me into collision with some one. As I sat thus, I
heard a footstep behind me: I turned, and saw the Senhora close to me.
I did not rise to salute her, but gazed calmly and sternly, without
speaking.

"Has the life of the dog imparted the dog's nature?" said she,
scoffingly. "Why don't you speak?"

"I have almost forgotten how to do so," said I, sulkily.

"You can hear, at least?"

I nodded assent.

"And understand what you hear?"

I nodded again.

"Listen to me, then, attentively, for I have but a short time to stay,
and have much to tell you. And, first of all, do you wish to escape from
hence?"

"Do I wish it!" cried I; and in the sudden burst, long dried-up sources
of emotion opened out afresh, and the heavy tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Are you willing to incur the danger of attempting it?"

"Ay, this instant!"

"If so, the means await you. I want a letter conveyed to a certain
person in the town of Guajuaqualla, which is about two hundred miles
distant."

"In which direction?" asked I.

"You shall see the map for yourself; here it is," said she, giving me
a small package which contained a map and a mariner's compass. "I only
know that the path lies over the prairie and by the banks of a branch of
the Red River. There are villages and farmhouses when you have reached
that region."

"And how am I to do so, unmolested, Senhora? A foot-traveller on the
prairie must be overtaken at once."

"You shall be well mounted on a mustang worth a thousand dollars; but
ride him without spurring. If he bring you safe to Guajuaqualla he has
paid his price." She then proceeded to a detail which showed how well
and maturely every minute circumstance had been weighed and considered.
The greatest difficulty lay in the fact that no water was to be met
with nearer than eighty miles, which distance I should be compelled to
compass on the first day. If this were a serious obstacle on one side,
on the other it relieved me of all apprehension of being capt