ust opposite that of
Catalina's chamber. Through the key-hole the girl had seen the light go
out, and the Senorita gliding around the patio. She had watched her
into the avenue, and then gently opening her own door and stolen after
her.

At the moment the Senorita had succeeded in unlocking the great gate of
the garden, the mestiza was peeping around the wall at the entrance of
the avenue; but on hearing the other return,--for it was by the sound of
her footsteps she was warned,--the wily spy had darted back into her
room, and closed the door behind her.

It was some time before she dared venture out again, as the key-hole no
longer did her any service. She kept her eye to it, however, and,
seeing that her mistress did not return to her chamber, she concluded
that the latter had continued on into the garden. Again gently opening
her door, she stole forth, and, on tiptoe approaching the avenue, peeped
into it. It was no longer dark. The gate was open, and the moon
shining in lit up the whole passage. It was evident, therefore, that
the Senorita had gone through, and was now in the garden.

Was she in the garden? The mestiza remembered the bridge, and knew that
her mistress carried the key of the wicket, and often used it both by
day and night. She might by this have crossed the bridge, and got far
beyond into the open country. She--the spy--might not find the
direction she had taken, and thus spoil the whole plan.

With these thoughts passing through her mind, the girl hurried through
the avenue, and, crouching down, hastened along the walk as fast as she
was able.

Seeing no one among the fruit-trees and flowerbeds, she began to
despair; but the thick grove at the bottom of the garden gave her
promise--that was a likely place of meeting--capital for such a purpose,
as the mestiza, experienced in such matters, well knew.

To approach the grove, however, presented a difficulty. There was a
space of open ground--a green parterre--between it and the flowerbeds.
Any one, already in the grove, could perceive the approach of another in
that direction, and especially under a bright moonlight. This the
mestiza saw, and it compelled her to pause and reflect how she was to
get nearer.

But one chance seemed to offer. The high adobe wall threw a shadow of
some feet along one side of the open ground. In this shadow it might be
possible to reach the timber unobserved. The girl resolved to attempt
it.

Guided