n I bribed him with the red stone, and with the promise that I
would lead him to the land of the People of the Mist, for had I not done
so he would never have used his wit or put out his strength to rescue
you from the Yellow Devil. Therefore it was also that I marked this
paper on your behalf and my own, knowing well that I had no right to
speak for you, and that by and by you could refuse to abide by it,
though I am bound."

"Frank, at any rate," said Leonard to himself. "What an attorney the old
lady would have made!"

"Say, Soa," asked Juanna, "to succeed in the search for these stones is
it necessary that I should act a part among your people?"

"I can see no other way," she answered. "But what of that? You are free,
and what I promised on your behalf is nothing. Let the White Man go
without his reward, it will save him a long journey."

"Attorney!" murmured Leonard in admiration; "she ought to be
Attorney-General."

"_Wow!_ The wicked old cheat!" put in Otter. "If I had my way I would
break her neck, though she is so clever with the big gun."

Juanna took no notice of these asides. For the moment she remained in
thought, then looked up smiling.

"Really," she said, "this is a capital legal document. But oh! Mr.
Outram, why did you dispel my illusions? You see, I had been making up
such a romantic story out of this adventure. You were the knight-errant,
and I was the Christian maiden in the hands of the ogre, and when you
heard of it you buckled on your armour and started to the rescue. And
now you bring me down to the nineteenth century with a run.

"It is not knight-errantry, but a commercial transaction: I am in
difficulty, but by playing a certain undefined part you believe that
I shall be able to help you to secure treasure; therefore you agree to
undertake the risk. I am ignorant of what I am to do, for as yet
nobody has explained it to me, but you need have no fear, I shall not
repudiate, as Soa suggests with so much candour. Certainly I shall try
my best to help you in this business, if I can, for you have worked hard
and endangered your life, Mr. Outram, and I am sure that you have
earned your money, or rather the prospect of it. Really it is all very
amusing," and she laughed merrily.

As for Leonard, he sat before her, mad with secret wrath and burning
with shame. What a fool he had been thus to expose himself to the shafts
of this girl's tongue--this girl, whose beauty was only equalled by
he