e wronging me while trifling with your own interests. I
have been honest, and declared all. I love the Dona Adela, as you've
known, long. What do I ask? Only that she shall become my wife, and,
by so doing, save the life of her brother. As your brother-in-law it
will be my duty, my interest, my pleasure, to protect you."

"That you shall never be!" firmly rejoins Miranda. "No, never!" he
adds, with kindling fervour, "never, on such conditions!"

"Does the senorita pronounce with the same determination?" asks Uraga,
riveting his eyes on Adela.

It is a terrible ordeal for the girl. Her brother lying bound by her
side, his death about to be decreed, his end near as if the executioner
were standing over him--for in this light does Uraga appear. Called
upon to save his life by promising to become the wife of this man--
hideous in her eyes as the hangman himself; knowing, or believing, that
if she does not, in another hour she may be gazing upon a blood-stained
corpse--the dead body of her own brother! No wonder she trembles from
head to foot, and hesitates to endorse the negative he has so
emphatically pronounced.

Don Valerian notes her indecision, and, firmly as before, repeats the
words,--

"No--never!" adding, "Dear sister, think not of me. Do not fear or
falter; I shall not. I would rather die a hundred deaths than see you
the wife of such a ruffian. Let me die first!"

"_Chingara_!" hisses the man thus boldly defied, using the vilest
exclamation known to the Spanish tongue. "Then you shall die first.
And, after you're dead, she shall still be my wife, or something you may
not like so well--my _Margarita_!"

The infamous meaning conveyed by this word, well understood by Miranda,
causes him to start half-upright, at the same time wrenching at the rope
around his wrists. The perspiration forced from him by the agony of the
hour has moistened the raw-hide thong to stretching. It yields to the
convulsive effort, leaving his hands released.

With a quick lurch forward he clutches at the sword dangling by Uraga's
side. Its hilt is in his grasp, and in an instant he has drawn the
blade from its scabbard!

Seeing himself thus suddenly disarmed, the Lancer Colonel springs back
shouting loudly for help. Miranda, his ankles bound, is at first unable
to follow, but with the sword-blade he quickly cut the thongs, and is on
his feet--free!

In another instant he is chasing Uraga across the camp-ground, t