en came
forward again.

"How did you come here, senor?"

"I fell from a horse and sprained my ankle. I tried to walk and
must have fainted."

"Have you friends in Moreno?"

"I did have, but they have gone and I want to get to Vera Cruz."

"Vera Cruz is a long way, senor. I never expect to go that far
from home--me and my little Peppa."

Adrian smiled.

"I expect it does look like a long ways to you, senora; but it is
not far. Do you think I can stay here with you until my ankle is
well enough to walk? I have a little money. I will pay you
something."

"Oh, Mother!" exclaimed the girl, who now spoke for the first
time. "You will let him stay, won't you?"

"The wife of Leocadio would not turn a lame dog out, much less a
lame boy."

"_Mil gracias, senora!_" exclaimed Adrian, with much gratitude.
"Yes, more than a thousand thanks. You will never regret it."

"The wife of Leocadio is not learned," was the reply, "but she
knows an honest youth when she sees one. Come, Peppita, let the
young man go to sleep. We will make our bed out here."

She drew the curtains together and Adrian was left alone to his
own reflections.

"By George!" he exclaimed under his breath, "if I ever get out of
this measly country, I'll be glad. I wonder what has become of
Billie? Of course he'll look for me, and old Don, too; but it
looks as though it might be weeks before I could walk. Well, I
don't care. If Mr. Black and Josie got away, that's glory enough
for one day."

He settled himself down and tried to go to sleep, but his leg
hurt him so that he could not. In fact, the pain was so great
that every once in a while he groaned.

After a few of these groans the woman appeared in the door with
an earthen vessel filled with hot water.

"If the senor will bind this on his ankle, it will do it much
good," she said.

"I'll do anything to get rid of this pain," said Adrian.

He took the jar and, dipping his handkerchief in it, bathed his
ankle freely and finally bound the cloth around the swollen part.

"There," he muttered as he at last succeeded in finding a
comfortable position, "now I think I can get a little sleep."

How long thereafter it was before he came to himself he did not
know, but when he opened his eyes the first streak of daylight
was creeping in through a little window.

A minute later there was the rattle of musketry, followed by a
hearty American cheer. He raised up to look out of the window,
when the s