ome moments, but what was Don
Felipe in the hands of a giant. Suddenly the knife went whirling back
over the Captain's shoulder, forming a glittering half-circle in the
moonlight as it fell among the flowers. Then Captain Forest lifted Don
Felipe with both hands as easily as he would have lifted a child and
hurled him violently to the ground several feet away. A smothered cry of
pain escaped him.

"Lie there, dog!" said the Captain, contemptuously.

"Not so, Captain Forest--we're not done yet!" answered Don Felipe,
rising with difficulty on one knee. From his hip pocket he drew a
pistol.

"Don Felipe Ramirez!" came Chiquita's voice, ringing clear; but he did
not heed the warning. Instantly her hand went to her breast and there
were two almost simultaneous shots. Don Felipe sprang into the air with
a loud cry, alighting upright upon both feet. He gasped, staggered
forward a pace, and then sank down on his knees. Again he gasped,
clutched desperately at his heart with his left hand, and then, with a
last supreme effort, slowly raised his weapon with his trembling hand
and once more took aim at the Captain. There was another quick flash and
report, and Don Felipe Ramirez lay dead on the ground between them.

In silence they gazed at one another across Don Felipe's body. The
Captain was about to speak when they were startled by a low moan just
behind them, and, turning, they saw Blanch sink slowly to the bench in a
sitting posture, her head resting on her arm across the back of the
bench. In an instant they were at her side.

[Illustration: "They were startled by a low moan and saw Blanch sink
slowly to the bench."]

"Blanch!" cried the Captain in consternation at the sight of the blood
that was oozing slowly from her left side, and which Chiquita was vainly
endeavoring to stanch with her handkerchief. At the sound of his voice,
she slowly opened her eyes.

"Forgive me," she whispered in an almost inaudible tone, as they knelt
on either side of her, supporting her. For some moments she lay quite
motionless, then a slight tremor passed through her and with a little
sigh like that of a child's, her head slipped down upon Chiquita's
breast. The bullet which Don Felipe had intended for the Captain had
passed through her heart; the penalty she paid for giving the signal in
the _patio_.

The moonlight fell full across her face, which, contrary to what one
might suppose, wore an expression of peace and calm, almost a smi