d
searched, but nothing was discovered; and all the while I sat faint and
trembling in the carriage, with a conviction that I ought to be
horrified, and yet with an ungovernable feeling of relief. The only
thoughts in my mind were, "He is safe!" and "He is free!" If only for
a moment, at least it would be a moment!

Half an hour passed before the street could be cleared, and we could
get across. Meanwhile in the fast-gathering dark, I kept hearing
voices speaking with that stern ring they have when men are excited and
talking among themselves, and hoofs of horses clattering off in the
direction the Mexicans had taken.

Every moment my heart was in my mouth, lest suddenly should come the
cry that Johnny Montgomery was found; but he seemed to have vanished as
completely as if he had been made invisible; and presently a hateful
thought crept into my mind: "What if it is the Spanish Woman who has
played the enchantress?" The rumor was abroad that the sortie had been
planned by some of Johnny Montgomery's friends--they were such wild
fellows that their doing the thing would not seem extraordinary.

Yet the other explanation seemed so much more probable to me, so
burningly evident. It came upon me with the shock of conviction, as if
the Spanish Woman herself had whispered it in my ear, and I was afraid
to look at any one lest he should read my thought in my conscious face.
I kept my head bent and held my trembling lips tight, glad that the
dark covered my agitations.

But later, at home, sitting on the edge of my bed, I told mother all
about it. I did not form the words aloud, but when I sat there looking
up at her pictured face I knew she understood every idea that went
through my mind. My thoughts went back over the incidents of the
trial. Each little separate memory struck the same note--the attempt
to get him out of prison, the attempt to make way with witnesses, and
finally this successful snatching of him from the law--it was the
Spanish Woman who had been responsible each time, and now it was she.
Oh, I understood now why Johnny Montgomery had smiled at me as I was
giving my testimony! I had thought it had been to encourage me to go
on, but it must have been a mere mockery, since he knew that, no matter
what story I told, he was safe.

But, had he known it? When I recalled his white, set face I doubted.
Yet at any rate, even in spite of him, she had saved him. He was gone,
gone to her perhaps, and I wa