e was conscious that La Giralda's knife was bare and that that
determined lady was simply choosing her opportunity. If Rollo had been
older most likely Ramon would have waited motionless for Giralda's
thrust, and then turned the young man under his heel, precisely as he
had done to the grave-digger earlier in the evening. But as they rode
from the abbey he had admired the young fellow's gallant bearing and
perhaps heard also of his flouting of his own Miguelete enemies at the
inn of San Vicente. So for this time he had pity upon him.

"Stand back, Giralda," he commanded. Then to Rollo he said, "Forgive my
seeming negligence, Senor. It was only seeming. The honour of my wife
and the life of my child are at stake. I am Ramon Garcia the outlaw,
whom you saw fall upon the altar of the Abbey of Montblanch. This is my
home. My wife is here and near to death in the house of mine enemy. Let
these things be my excuse!"

Rollo dropped his pistol, like a good sportsman mechanically uncocking
it as he did so. His generous impulses were as fierce and swift as his
other passions.

"Tell me all," he said, "'fore God I will help you--ay, before any king
or monk on earth. A brave man in such trouble has the first claim of all
upon Rollo Blair!"

"And your companions?" said El Sarria.

"I give myself no trouble about them," cried Rollo. "Senor Mortimer will
visit the vineyards and wine cellars to-morrow and be happy. And as for
gay Master Etienne, has he not the little Concha to search for? Besides,
even if he had not, he would not be six hours in the place without
starting a new love affair."

Then, as they turned backwards along the road, El Sarria told Rollo all
his tale, and the young Scot found himself, for the first time, deep
among the crude mother-stuff of life and passion.

"And I thought that I had lived!" he said, and looked long at the huge
form of the outlaw by his side, to whom deadly peril was as meat and
drink, whom any man might slay, and gain a reward for the deed.

"I see it!" cried Rollo, whose quick brain caught the conditions of the
problem even as Ramon was speaking. "And if I help, my companions will
help also. I answer for them!"

For this young man was in the habit, not only of undertaking remarkable
adventures himself, but, out of mere generosity, of engaging his friends
in them as well. Yet never for a moment did Rollo doubt that he was
acting, not only for the best, but positively in a manner so rea