d shaking his head at the white
ship that loomed up like a man-of-war in the black waters. "I'm not
afraid to fight you for anything worth fighting for."

He bowed his bared head in good-night toward the light on the hill, as
he turned and walked back into his bedroom. "And I think," he murmured
grimly, as he put out the light, "that she is worth fighting for."

IV

The work which had called Clay to the mines kept him there for some
time, and it was not until the third day after the arrival of the
Langhams that he returned again to the Palms. On the afternoon when he
climbed the hill to the bungalow he found the Langhams as he had left
them, with the difference that King now occupied a place in the family
circle. Clay was made so welcome, and especially so by King, that he
felt rather ashamed of his sentiments toward him, and considered his
three days of absence to be well repaid by the heartiness of their
greeting.

"For myself," said Mr. Langham, "I don't believe you had anything to do
at the mines at all. I think you went away just to show us how
necessary you are. But if you want me to make a good report of our
resident director on my return, you had better devote yourself less to
the mines while you are here and more to us." Clay said he was glad to
find that his duties were to be of so pleasant a nature, and asked them
what they had seen and what they had done.

They told him they had been nowhere, but had waited for his return in
order that he might act as their guide.

"Then you should see the city at once," said Clay, "and I will have the
volante brought to the door, and we can all go in this afternoon.
There is room for the four of you inside, and I can sit on the box-seat
with the driver."

"No," said King, "let Hope or me sit on the box-seat. Then we can
practise our Spanish on the driver."

"Not very well," Clay replied, "for the driver sits on the first horse,
like a postilion. It's a sort of tandem without reins. Haven't you
seen it yet? We consider the volante our proudest exhibit." So Clay
ordered the volante to be brought out, and placed them facing each
other in the open carriage, while he climbed to the box-seat, from
which position of vantage he pointed out and explained the objects of
interest they passed, after the manner of a professional guide. It was
a warm, beautiful afternoon, and the clear mists of the atmosphere
intensified the rich blue of the sky, and the brillia