... I shall wait and see how he behaves before deciding."

She had to wait longer than she anticipated, for she found that "El
Diablo Cojuelo" had left his stronghold. Failing to make herself
understood, Dolores fetched an old man who looked like a comic opera
pirate and who could speak a little English.

"El bueno maestro--the boss--he go away sun-up but will come back
pretty-dam-quick, yes, I think," the man explained, with many bows and
smiles. Actually it was not English he spoke but a queer mixture of
Spanish and American. "The boss Cojuelo, he makka the business with
the Ingles at El Castillo de Ruiz. You no need to have the fear,
senorita. You alla right, yes, sure aqui. I spik the Ingles all
right--yes? Vos comprender? Bein! The boss, the maestro, he come
back all right, senorita. Yes, allaright, tank you ver' much, please!"

Left alone in the outer room, Myra walked up and down restlessly,
wondering why he had gone back to the Castillo de Ruiz. The idea of
attempting to escape occurred to her, and, after satisfying herself she
was not being watched, she went to the cunningly-contrived door which
seemed to be part of the wall of rock.

It was difficult enough to determine which part of the wall was the
door, and when she did discover the seam that indicated it, Myra could
find no lock, lever or spring to open the portal.

Baffled, she wandered through the maze of rocky passages, and
encountered Madre Dolores, who, realising that she was on a sort of
tour of exploration, showed her various cell-like apartments, gabbling
away volubly but unintelligibly all the while, before conducting her to
a great cave at the end of the labyrinth, a cave in which there were
mules and asses tethered to rings fixed into the walls, and men of all
ages and in all sorts of garb were taking their ease, smoking, drinking
and playing cards or throwing dice.

At sight of Myra all the men who were awake rose and bowed
respectfully, and the old brigand who could speak some English-American
lingo stepped forward.

"Salve, senorita!" he exclaimed. "We give the welcomes and salutations
to our reina, the consort of our boss El Diablo Cojuelo."

Myra turned and fled in confusion, blushing hotly, and found her way
back to the other big apartment. She had no watch and no means of
judging the passage of time, since no daylight could be seen, but she
guessed it must be evening when Madre Dolores served a third meal.

She was