h was told eloquently by the lines
of high adobe walls ringing the buildings and by the architecture of
the main building itself. There were columns, arches, corridors after
the old mission style. But it had all been made over, added to, so
that it was now a residence of a score or more of rooms. It spread out
covering the entire top of a knoll whereon were many large oaks. At
the back, rising sharply, was the barren slope of the mountain.

Their gaze was drawn suddenly from the house itself to a rider darting
out through the high arched gateway in the adobe wall. A beautiful
horse, snowy, glistening white, groomed to the last hair, an animal of
fine thin racing forelegs proudly lifted and high-flung head, shot out
of the shadows like a shaft of sunlight. On its back what at first
appeared an elegantly dressed young man, a youth even fastidiously and
fancifully accoutered, with riding boots that shone and a flaunting
white plume and red lined cape floating wildly. Only when the
approaching rider came close and threw up a gauntleted hand to the wide
black hat, saluting laughingly, did they recognize this for the same
youth who had come with Ruiz Rios to Ortega's gambling house.

"Zoraida Castelmar!" gasped Kendric.

Turning in his amazement to his companion he caught a strange look in
Barlow's eyes, a strange flush in Barlow's cheeks. Then he saw only
the girl's dark, passionate face and scarlet lips and burning eyes as
she called softly:

"Welcome to the Hacienda Montezuma! The gods have willed that you
come. The gods and I!"

And into Kendric's bewildered face, ignoring Barlow, she laughed
triumphantly.

CHAPTER V

HOW ONE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO TAKING ANOTHER
MAN'S ORDERS RECEIVES THE COMMAND OF THE QUEEN LADY

Had horse and rider been only a painting, immovable upon hung canvas,
they would have drawn to themselves the enrapt eyes of mute, admiring
artists. Endowed with the glorious attribute of pulsating life, they
fascinated. Kendric saw the white mare's neck arch, marked how the
satiny skin rippled, how the dainty ears tipped forward, how the large
intelligent eyes bespoke the proud spirit. He could fancy the mare
prancing forth from the stables of an Eastern prince, the finest pure
bred Arabian of his stud, the royal favorite, the white queen-rose of
his costly gardens. From the mare he looked to the rider, not so much
as a man may regard a woman but as he must pay tribute to animal
perf