heard the waters sing and the notes of the
birds issuing from the willow copse.

"Well! how much longer are you going to stand there? Why don't you say
something?" she snapped, still keeping her back turned toward him. Her
words inspired him with fresh confidence. He recognized in them a faint
glimmer of interest which even her fierce spirit of resentment had not
entirely succeeded in overcoming.

"Miss Van Ashton, ignore me, trample me in the dust if you like, but do
you know, if it had been any other woman than yourself, I should have
laid her quietly down upon the ground and left her to regain
consciousness as best she could!" She wheeled around abruptly, looking
him straight in the eyes. There was no mistaking the sincerity of his
words, or the look that accompanied them. And she instinctively felt
that an impulsive, passionate nature like his could not have helped
doing what he did.

"I don't believe a word you say," she said, softening somewhat, a faint
smile lurking about the corners of her mouth. Then, as the ludicrousness
of the situation came over her, she burst into fit after fit of laughter
until the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Oh, dear!" she sighed at length.

"You do forgive me!" he pleaded, picking up her dainty straw hat which
lay on the ground close by and handing it to her.

"No, I don't forgive you. I don't think I ever shall," she answered in
the severest tone she could command. "It was foolish of me to wander
away from the others," she continued. "I might have known that something
would happen, because something is always happening in this country.
It's perfectly marvelous!" Then, after a pause, during which she placed
her hat rakishly on one side of her head, she added: "As a punishment,
Mr. Yankton, I'll allow you to accompany me back to the _Posada_." Her
words caused his heart to jump.

"I don't deserve it," he answered, assuming an air and tone of humility.

"I'm glad you realize that," she returned. "I suppose I'm indebted to
you for saving my life," she went on. "And I don't want you to think me
ungrateful. Perhaps it would have been better though--" She broke off
abruptly, and then laughed a strange little laugh that puzzled him
greatly. She had at least grown communicative again, and he heaved a
sigh of relief. He had gotten off so much easier than he expected.

"One moment, Miss Van Ashton," he said, as she was about to take the
lead. He turned and gave a shrill whistle. His