dawn. Sturges, following Benito's advice, bought a long
gray cloak with a hood, and filled his saddle-bags with nourishing food.
The vaquero sent word to Dona Brigida that the horses he had brought in
to sell to the officers had escaped and that he was hastening down the
coast in pursuit. In spite of his knowledge of the mountains, it was
only after two days of weary search in almost trackless forests, and
more than one encounter with wild beasts, that they came upon the cave.
They would have passed it then but for the sharp eyes of Sturges, who
detected the glint of stone behind the branches which Dona Brigida had
piled against it.

He sprang down, tossed the brush aside, and inserted his fingers between
the side of the stone and the wall of the cave. But he could not move it
alone, and was about to call Benito, who was watering the mustangs at
a spring, when he happened to glance upward. A small white hand was
hanging over the top of the stone. Sturges was not a Californian, but he
sprang to his feet and pressed his lips to that hand. It was cold and
nerveless, and clasping it in his he applied his gaze to the rift above
the stone. In a moment he distinguished two dark eyes and a gleam of
white brow above. Then a faint voice said:--

"Take me out! Take me out, senor, for the love of God!"

"I have come for that. Cheer up," said Sturges, in his best Spanish.
"You'll be out in five minutes."

"And then you'll bring me his head," whispered Pilar. "Ay, Dios, what I
have suffered! I have been years here, senor, and I am nearly mad."

"Well, I won't promise you his head, but I've thrashed the life out of
him, if that will give you any satisfaction. I caught him in the woods,
and I laid on my riding-whip until he bit the grass and yelled for
mercy."

The eyes in the cave blazed with a light which reminded him
uncomfortably of Dona Erigida.

"That was well! That was well!" said Pilar. "But it is not enough. I
must have his head. I never shall sleep again till then, senor. Ay,
Dios, what I have suffered!"

"Well, we'll see about the head later. To get you out of this is the
first thing on the program. Benito!"

Benito ran forward, and together they managed to drag the stone aside.
But Pilar retreated into the darkness and covered her face with her
hands.

"Ay, Dios! Dios! I cannot go out into the sunlight. I am old and
hideous."

"Make some coffee," said Sturges to Benito. He went within and took her
hands. "Com