elf.

Suddenly she wheeled to face Gale with proud dark eyes, tragic
sweetness of appeal, and exquisite grace.

"Senor, you are an American. You cannot know the Spanish blood--the
peon bandit's hate and cruelty. I wish to die before Rojas's hand
touches me. If he takes me alive, then the hour, the little day that
my life lasts afterward will be tortured--torture of hell. If I live
two days his brutal men will have me. If I live three, the dogs of his
camp... Senor, have you a sister whom you love? Help Senor Thorne to
save me. He is a soldier. He is bound. He must not betray his honor,
his duty, for me.... Ah, you two splendid Americans--so big, so strong,
so fierce! What is that little black half-breed slave Rojas to such
men? Rojas is a coward. Now, let me waste no more precious time. I am
ready. I will be brave."

She came close to Gale, holding out her white hands, a woman all fire
and soul and passion. To Gale she was wonderful. His heart leaped.
As he bent over her hands and kissed them he seemed to feel himself
renewed, remade.

"Senorita," he said, "I am happy to be your servant. I can conceive of
no greater pleasure than giving the service you require."

"And what is that?" inquired Thorne, hurriedly.

"That of incapacitating Senor Rojas for to-night, and perhaps several
nights to come," replied Gale.

"Dick, what will you do?" asked Thorne, now in alarm.

"I'll make a row in that saloon," returned Dick, bluntly. "I'll start
something. I'll rush Rojas and his crowd. I'll--"

"Lord, no; you mustn't, Dick--you'll be knifed!" cried Thorne. He was
in distress, yet his eyes were shining.

"I'll take a chance. Maybe I can surprise that slow Greaser bunch and
get away before they know what's happened.... You be ready watching at
the window. When the row starts those fellows out there in the plaza
will run into the saloon. Then you slip out, go straight through the
plaza down the street. It's a dark street, I remember. I'll catch up
with you before you get far."

Thorne gasped, but did not say a word. Mercedes leaned against him,
her white hands now at her breast, her great eyes watching Gale as he
went out.

In the corridor Gale stopped long enough to pull on a pair of heavy
gloves, to muss his hair, and disarrange his collar. Then he stepped
into the restaurant, went through, and halted in the door leading into
the saloon. His five feet eleven inches and one hundred and eighty