horse which had been
feeding quietly the while on the grass a short distance from them,
raised his head at the sound, and giving a low whinny, came trotting up
to them.

"Won't you ride?" he asked, turning to her. "He's quite gentle."

"No," she answered rather curtly, "I prefer to walk."

"Just as you say," he answered in a tone of complete submission, taking
his place quietly by her side.

"No--not that way!" she said. "We'll keep the horse's head between us."

XVI

There had been no more shooting or attempts at murder. The mail began to
arrive from home, and Colonel Van Ashton and Mrs. Forest began to
breathe easier.

Life at the old _Posada_ had settled down once more to its accustomed
calm and routine. The sun shone benignly and the birds sang daily in the
garden where the guests were wont to pass the greater part of the day.
The gay little songsters were a veritable revelation to them--especially
to the Colonel. How could such gentle creatures go on singing with such
indifference to the future in a land where life was held so cheap and
all things so uncertain?

Blanch had turned a deaf ear to the others' entreaties to return home at
once. The more they talked, the firmer she became, and finally, taking
matters into her own hands, settled the question by telegraphing home
for the twenty trunks of clothes she left there on her departure.

"Can't you see," she said by way of explanation, "how disastrous it
would be to leave Jack alone in this country with that--"

"Don't mention her!" interrupted Mrs. Forest.

"I don't see how we can help it," replied Blanch, "since fate has thrust
her unbidden into our lives. We might as well recognize facts first as
last since we are no longer in a position to choose either our
surroundings or the persons with whom we are to associate. There is only
one way to avert the catastrophe threatening us, and that is--by my
marrying Jack."

Chiquita's beauty filled Mrs. Forest with a vague and nameless terror.
But a glimpse of that dark siren was enough to apprise her of her son's
peril, and she unhesitatingly implored Blanch not to let him out of her
sight--to go off with him alone as often as possible and flirt with him
to any length; a tremendous concession on Mrs. Forest's part--nothing
less than a complete surrender, she being one of those proud but insipid
mortals whose temperature could be easily gauged by the inclination of
her long, slender, slightly upturne