was constrained. Jacqueline's eyes followed him until the inner
door closed behind him. Then, with a half shrug, she sat down and
pensively resumed the building of fiery mounds on the hearth.

CHAPTER VI

IF A KISS WERE ALL

"A man, a woman, a passion--what else matters?"--_Sardou._

"Tall Mose" Bledsoe and the Rev. Mr. Douglas conveyed Don Rodrigo to the
back room, and here Driscoll and Boone joined them. They did not disarm
the Mexican. It did not occur to them that any man would risk drawing a
weapon in such company. And as to Fra Diavolo they surmised correctly.
He sulked a little at first, for there were sore tendons that ached. But
in the end he grew reasonable, and his white teeth gleamed acquiescence
to all that the senores were pleased to say. He agreed to bivouac his
men apart from the Missourians and go his own way at daybreak. The
Contras were routed. The Tiger had barely escaped. There was no further
need of combined forces. Indeed, Don Rodrigo feared a night attack so
little that he meant to reward his men with many copitas of aguardiente.
Might he send a barrel over to his esteemed allies?

Mose Bledsoe turned a pleading look on the parson, and to his surprise
the Rev. Mr. Douglas beamed tolerant benevolence. "Why yes, my friend,"
he himself said to Don Rodrigo, "good liquor is always acceptable,
especially when soldiers must sleep on the wet ground."

The brigand was then allowed to depart, and Old Brothers and Sisters
explained. It was best to let Rodrigo send the brandy, for then one knew
what to expect. Otherwise the Christian brother and rascal would hatch
up some other plot, and any other plot might take them off their guard.

When an hour later, Rodrigo did in fact attack the presumably somnolent
Americans, more happened than either he or they expected. A third was
also waiting to strike for the sake of a woman. He was Dupin, who wanted
nothing better than the allies at each other's throat. Crouching warily
near, the Tiger sprang at both of them. In the rain and the black night,
the three-cornered fight raged like firecrackers under a tin bucket. The
guerrillas, repulsed by the Americans, fled upon the Contras, whereat
the Americans swept them both back indiscriminately. Instead of a lady,
the Tiger carried off Don Rodrigo, and was quite glad to carry himself
off. But Boone, scouting near, reported that Rodrigo was held a prisoner
instead of being executed at once. This meant som