CHAPTER XXXII

MORE ADVENTURE AHEAD

"Farewell, Senor Jack Hampton."

Jack clasped the sprightly Spanish girl's hand, reluctant to release
it. It was noon of the next day. Brilliant sunshine flooded the
landing field of the Calomares ranch. Bob already had clambered into
the pilot's seat of the airplane. Mr. Hampton stood to one side,
exchanging farewells with Don Fernandez.

"Not farewell, Senorita," said Jack, ardently. "We must meet again."

The girl shrugged.

"But where?" said she. "Will you come back to capture our castle
again?"

"No," said Jack, grinning. "But," he added, significantly, "I may come
back--to capture one of its inhabitants."

Low though his tone was, the words reached the ears of Donna Ana, the
ever-present duenna, and she glared at him. This was no way for a
brash young Americano to be speaking to the daughter of the great Don
Fernandez. Jack caught the glance and laughed. He turned to the
duenna and extended his hand.

"Farewell, Donna Ana," he said. "It's been such a pleasure to meet
you."

The wizened old duenna was nonplussed. She did not know whether to
resent this pleasantry or be gratified by it. Mechanically she
accepted Jack's extended hand.

At that moment, Bob called to him. Jack turned. Mr. Hampton already
had entered the airplane. They were waiting for him. Once more he
seized Rafaela's hand.

"Remember," he said, so low that only her ears could hear his words,
"you haven't seen the last of me."

She cast him an arch glance.

"Senor Jack is improving," she whispered. "He will be a courtier yet."

Then Jack climbed into his seat. A mechanic started the propeller, the
machine began to bump over the ground, and presently it was in the air
and climbing.

Bob spiralled upward until they were high above the ranch, and the
figures below seemed little manikins. Jack believed he could
distinguish Rafaela waving a lacy handkerchief, and leaned far over
the side to wave in reply.

Then they were off, zooming through the air, straight as an arrow for
the international boundary and the Hampton ranch beyond. The flight
was brief. Bob covered the distance of 150 miles in considerably less
than two hours.

"Look here," he said to his father, after greetings had been
exchanged, and the latter had thumped his big son so hard and often
that Bob dodged when further "love taps" came his way. "I'm not going
to stay here to be pounded into a jelly. Tell you what, father, th