ou plotted to slay the child of her womb--_my son_, Luis, do
you hear, _my only son_!"

The outlaw's voice mounted into a solemn and awful tone of accusation,
like a man in hell calling the roll of his own past happinesses.

"Now, Luis Fernandez," thundered Ramon, after a period of silence, "what
have you to say to all this? Have you any reasons to advance why you
should not die by my hand?"

"Ramon, Ramon, do not kill me in my sins," cried the wretched man. "By
the memory of our boyhood together let me at least receive absolution
and go clean!"

"Even as you would have made me go unshriven by the mouth of the Devil's
Canyon--even as this very night you sent forth to the holy ministry of
the worm, and the consolations of the clod the young child, unblessed
and unbenisoned, without touch of priestly hand or sprinkling drop of
holy water! Even so, Luis, friend of my youth, according to the measure
ye mete it shall be measured to you again. The barley bushel is good
measure also for the rye!"

Rollo, standing by the door and looking over the heads of accuser and
accused, saw through a window the first green streaks of a doubtful dawn
drawn livid and chill athwart a black sky. He went across to El Sarria
and whispered in his ear. Fernandez lifted up his head and eyed the Scot
with a kind of dull curiosity as if he wondered what his part in the
affair might be. And the keen and restless eyes of the Tia watched him
also, from where she lay pillowed on her stolen bundle like a bound and
helpless Fury.

In quick whispers Rollo urged a plan of action upon El Sarria, by which
he hoped to obtain a reprieve and perhaps his life for the wretched man.
But he did not advert to this, only to the necessity of haste, and to
the perilous state of Dolores. This was indeed his great argument.
Whatever happened she must be cared for. The matter of the traitors
could be arranged later. While Ramon sat considering, the active eyes of
the young Scot discovered a small iron-faced door open at one corner of
the chamber. He went across and pulled aside the curtain which half
concealed the entrance.

"A regular strong room, by Jove!" he cried; "here is everything
comfortable for our friends while we settle our other affairs. We shall
need our good Senor Don Luis, from time to time during the morning, but
I doubt not he will oblige us."

Rollo sounded all over the strong room of the mill-house for any signs
of another possible exit, but al