bound it about the sprain, and wrapping her long
cloak of wool around her, put her shoe and stocking in my pocket, and
then lifting her to my shoulder, started down the road to Madre Moreno's
cottage.

In appearance, the young woman was of small figure, delicately formed
and graceful; her face full of life, with finely marked eyebrows of the
same brown shade as her hair; her eyes were blue--a rare colour among us
Californians--unusually full and brilliant, and to-day suffused with
tears. I noticed that the pupils were remarkably large, sometimes
covering the greater part, if not all, of the iris.

Small and light as she was, I had to rest often, for the distance was
nearly a mile, and the surface of the road was much broken. When
reaching the top of the last rise of the road before arriving at Madre
Moreno's I rested for the last time.

"I am very sorry that this accident has occurred, and I can never thank
you sufficiently for the kindness you have shown me; had you not come to
the ruin I could never have reached home, and the thought of spending a
night there makes me shudder even now," she said as she sat by the
roadside.

"I am sorry that we have to delay so long on the way, for your aunt will
be much worried," I replied.

"Aunt Ambrosia ought surely to make some use of her power and come out
and carry me home on her broomstick steed," she answered, looking up at
me with a smile.

"I was much surprised to see you at the ruins this afternoon, and indeed
almost thought that you were some spirit of the place, for I have never
seen any woman but Madre Moreno there, as they are so afraid of the
snakes and lizards which abound, and they also say that there is a curse
upon the spot which is liable to affect any one who may stop there long
enough. How did you find the ruin? It is so hidden from view by the
trees that a stranger could scarcely have found it except by the merest
chance."

"Aunt Ambrosia told me of it, and said that the sun effects were
beautiful there in the afternoon, and that I had better go to-day
between four and five, as it was at the best then, when half of the ruin
would be in shadow and the one standing wall receive the full sunlight.
I was pleased with the picture, but had I known of the snakes this
accident never could have happened. You were looking so intently at me
when I discovered your presence that I was startled and even thought of
Aunt Ambrosia's skill in the black art, and that you