me to raise
the horse, and we will let the fellow go."

Fortunately the animal was unhurt, and very soon we had it on its feet.
Then we unbound the man, removed the rug from his head, and slipped out
the gag.

"Mount and ride on," said Jose sternly, disguising his voice. "We wish
you no harm."

"Give me my pistols, you rascal!" cried Lurena, stamping his foot
angrily.

"Mount!" repeated Jose, and the click of his own pistol sounded
ominously on the still air.

There was nothing for it but to obey, and fuming with passion, the
fellow clambered sullenly to the saddle. Shaking his fist at us and
vowing all manner of vengeance, he disappeared in the gloom.

"I'm glad we came," said I, helping Jose to pick up the things; "that
bit of paper has removed a load from my mind. I thought my father
might be right, but must admit I was rather doubtful."

"I am in no doubt whatever," responded Jose. "Either the fellow was
too sharp for us, or we made our venture at an unlucky time. If there
was nothing wrong, why did he ride off so quickly?"

"Well," said I, laughing, "the click of a pistol in one's ears is not
much of an inducement to stay. I think he acted very wisely."

"If all were square and aboveboard, he would have shouted for help."

"And drawn more attention to himself! That would have been foolish in
any case. No, no, Jose; the case is clear, I think. We have misjudged
Montilla, and though I don't admire his methods, it is evident he is
working on our side. Let us be just, at least."

"I wish it were possible," muttered Jose, leaving me to conjecture what
his words exactly meant.

Strangely enough, my distrust of Don Felipe was as strong as ever next
day. The incident of the spy should have removed any lingering doubt
as to his fidelity, but it did not. Perhaps it was owing to Jose's
influence, but whatever the cause, I still found myself speculating
keenly on our neighbour's honesty.

Now, mind you, I do not wish to be praised or blamed on false grounds.
What I did afterwards may have been right or wrong--and much, perhaps,
can be said on both sides--but it was not done through either love or
hatred of Don Felipe. True, the man was no friend of mine, but his
daughter was, and I could not bear to think of her suffering through
his misdeeds.

On the very day that the troops for the south embarked, I met her quite
by accident. She had been for a gallop, and was returning home. Her
cheeks wer