ogether. He was for turning down the
road, but she blocked his horse with her own. During a second the flight
was stopped.

"I'm in a hurry just now," he panted, but made no effort to get by her.

"Up that way!" she cried. "Up that way, past the House!"

"But those pretty boys----"

"The Austrians? They'll not stop you, I promise."

"Then it's our move. Careful, little girl, don't fall!"

Jacqueline, waving her arm, signaled the Feathers and Furs to make room,
and Tiburcio and Ney saw to it that they did. Man and girl raced through
them.

"Wait here, Michel!" called Jacqueline, leaving Ney still with thumb to
cap at salute. Tiburcio gazed after them.

Lopez ran across the pasture to the colonnade. His red face was redder
than ever before. Tiburcio sardonically regarded him. Lopez glared at
Ney.

"Why aren't you in pursuit?" he demanded hotly.

"And you, monsieur?"

"And I, and I! Who are you to question me, senor? Every girth has been
cut!"

"Caramba, mi coronel," cried Tiburcio in dismay, "you don't say so!"

"And it will take ten minutes to tie up the cords, while you, you, Senor
Frenchman, you stand there, your men mounted and ready! Obey me, I tell
you!"

"Can't," said Ney doggedly. "Against orders."

"Orders? Whose orders?"

"Of Mademoiselle la Marquise, monsieur."

"Who runs away with a convict. A fit commander, por Dios!"

Off came the Frenchman's gauntlet, but he paused in the gesture of
striking. Too quick at this, and not enough at wits, he might ruin her
plans.

"As fit," he retorted instead, "as another who lets prisoners escape. I
advise Monsieur the Colonel to look to his girths."

CHAPTER XXV

THE PERSON ON THE OTHER HORSE

"Yet am I sure of one pleasure,
And shortly, it is this:
That, where ye be, me seemeth, parde,
I could not fare amiss."
--_Ballad of the Nut Brown Maid._

Din Driscoll had never remotely imagined that there could be such
intoxication in a horseback ride. The person on the other horse made for
the difference. How the joy of her filled him that instant of his
bursting through the black prison wall into the bright morning of the
world! She, the splendid first thing to gladden his eyes! Could liberty
be really so glorious? Ravishing horsewoman, she was coming to save him.
He had supposed her on her way to Mexico, and 'twas she whom he saw
first of all.

And now, she rode beside him. They two, they were riding together,
alone.