lain
down to rest. The young women were saluted by all as they appeared,
and the soldiers whom they recognized as their escort of the night
before, came forward to learn their wishes.

"Carlos, the ponies that brought us here are still with you?"

"They are, Senorita."

"Have them saddled and brought out; we are to ride to Zalapata today,
and wish to make an early start."

The man removed his hat, bowed and spoke with the utmost respect:

"I am grieved not to hasten to comply with your commands; but we have
orders from General Yozarro that the Senoritas are to remain here till
he comes, which will be in a few hours, I think. It fills my heart
with sorrow, but as a soldier, the Senorita knows that no choice is
left to me."

And this time, he made two obesiances,--one for each of the dumfounded
young women.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The two looked at each other in speechless amaze. This was a direct
interference with their personal freedom, the first either had known.

The Senorita was the first to find speech. Addressing the soldier, she
said:

"You say this is the order of General Yozarro?"

"Were it not, I should not dare utter the words."

"What is his reason for the command?"

It was essentially a feminine question, but the soldier did not
hesitate with the reply:

"War impends between Zalapata and Atlamalco; we are expecting at
almost any hour an attack upon _Castillo Descanso_; the Senorita
observes the armed force that has been placed here by General Yozarro;
he cannot allow the Senoritas the danger of falling into the hands of
the perfidious General Bambos and his barbarians."

It was on the tongue of Miss Starland to declare that she would prefer
a hundred times that eventuality to remaining in charge of the
Atlamalcans, but instead, her companion said what was in the minds of
both:

"The order of General Yozarro may apply to me, but cannot apply to my
friend who owes no allegiance to Atlamalco or Zalapata. She comes from
the Great Republic of the North, and no one elsewhere has the right to
say yea or nay to her."

"It distresses me very much, Senorita Estacardo, that special weight
was laid by General Yozarro upon the order as affecting _la
Americana_."

And looking toward the latter, he again removed his hat and bowed low,
instead of contenting himself with the military salute that would have
been the proper thing under the circumstances. The soldier was above
the ordinary native in i