ation
further divulged. The point in Dictator Jaffier's mind was just the
hour to strike. He recognized the importance of striking first; but, he
observed sententiously, there was an exact moment between preparedness
and precipitation. Jaffier believed that Celestino Rey was looking for
a shipload of rifles and ammunition; but the entire coast was guarded
by the Defenders, especially _The Pleiad_ inlet, where the Spaniard's
rare yacht lay. A seizure of the contraband, it was naively stated,
would be a most desirable stroke by the government.... The letter
closed with the information Bedient had especially requested. The young
American Jim Framtree, whose movements in part had been followed by
Jaffier's agents, was at _The Pleiad_ with his chief, Celestino Rey,
and was doubtless an important member of the rebel staff....

Bedient read the letter carefully and glanced through it again.
Jaffier's reliable held out his hand for it.

"If the Senor has carefully digested the contents----" he began.

"Yes, I have it all----"

The other took the letter and touched a match to it, stepping upon the
crisp, blackened shell of fibre that fell to the floor. He carried back
a New York draft for a large amount.

Bedient slept; that is, his body lay moveless from mid-evening to broad
daylight, that first night at the _hacienda_. His consciousness had
taken long journeys to Beth, remarkable pilgrimages to India (and found
Beth there in the tonic altitudes). Always she regarded him with some
strange terror that would not let her speak. Home from these far
flights, he would see his body lying still in the splendid, silent
room, fanned by soft night-winds, and quickly depart again.... It must
have been the beautiful welcome from Falk and the natives. He had
broken down quite absurdly, all his furious sustaining force had
relaxed. Perhaps it had been necessary for him to break down before he
could sleep.... Many times before, he had seen his body lying asleep.

He was more than ever tired and torn this day. Every vista of the hills
held poignant hurt, because Beth Truba could not see this beauty. He
dared not touch the orchestrelle. Falk brought coffee and fruit after
Jaffier's servant had departed. Coffee at the _hacienda_ was a perfect
achievement. Eight years of training under Captain Carreras, who had an
ideal in the making, and who claimed the finest coffee in the world as
the product of his own hills, had brought the beverage to