understand him then--though she did a moment
later! For without attempting to catch hold of the mustang's mane, Grey
in a single leap threw himself across its back. The animal, utterly
unprepared, was at first stupefied. But by this time her rider had his
seat. He felt her sensitive spine arch like a cat's beneath him as she
sprang rocket-wise into the air.

But here she was mistaken! Instead of clinging tightly to her flanks
with the inner side of his calves, after the old vaquero fashion to
which she was accustomed, he dropped his spurred heels into her sides
and allowed his body to rise with her spring, and the cruel spur to cut
its track upward from her belly almost to her back.

She dropped like a shot, he dexterously withdrawing his spurs, and
regaining his seat, jarred but not discomfited. Again she essayed a
leap; the spurs again marked its height in a scarifying track along her
smooth barrel. She tried a third leap, but this time dropped halfway as
she felt the steel scraping her side, and then stood still, trembling.
Grey leaped off!

There was a sound of applause from the innkeeper and his wife, assisted
by a lounging vaquero in the corridor. Ashamed of his victory, Grey
turned apologetically to Cota. To his surprise she glanced indifferently
at the trickling sides of her favorite, and only regarded him curiously.

"Ah," she said, drawing in her breath, "you are strong--and you
comprehend!"

"It was only a trick for a trick, senorita," he replied, reddening;
"let me look after those scratches in the stable," he added, as she was
turning away, leading the agitated and excited animal toward a shed in
the rear.

He would have taken the riata which she was still holding, but she
motioned him to precede her. He did so by a few feet, but he had
scarcely reached the stable door before she suddenly caught him roughly
by the shoulders, and, shoving him into the entrance, slammed the door
upon him.

Amazed and a little indignant, he turned in time to hear a slight sound
of scuffling outside, and to see Cota re-enter with a flushed face.

"Pardon, senor," she said quickly, "but I feared she might have kicked
you. Rest tranquil, however, for the servant he has taken her away."

She pointed to a slouching peon with a malevolent face, who was angrily
driving the mustang toward the corral.

"Consider it no more! I was rude! Santa Maria! I almost threw you, too;
but," she added, with a dazzling smile, "you must n