uel thought--a most desolate and unattractive spot.
An open space of about half an acre was bounded on one side by a growth
of wild mustard, whose slender stalks rose to more than the height of a
man's head. On the other side was a grove of live-oak; and in front, the
ground fell away in a rugged, bush-grown declivity.

"It strikes me that this is just about what we want," remarked Freeman,
in his full, cheerful tones. "We are half a mile from the road;
the ground is fairly level; and there's no possibility of our being
disturbed. I was thinking, this afternoon, as I passed through here,
what an ideal spot it was for just such a little affair as you and I are
bent on. But I didn't venture to anticipate such speedy good fortune as
your obliging condescension has brought to pass, Don Miguel."

"Caramba!" muttered the senor, shivering. He might have said more, but
was unwilling to trust his voice, or to waste nervous energy.

Meanwhile, Freeman had dismounted, and was tethering his horse. It
occurred to the senor that it would be easy to pull his gun, send a
bullet through his companion, and gallop away. He did not yield to
this temptation, partly from traditional feeling that it would not be
suitable conduct for a De Mendoza, partly because he might miss the shot
or only inflict a wound, and partly because such deeds demand a nerve
which, at that moment, was not altogether at his command. Instead,
he slowly dismounted himself, and wondered whether it would ever be
vouchsafed him to sit in that saddle again.

Freeman now produced his revolver, a handsome, silver-mounted weapon,
that looked business-like. "What sort of a machine is yours?" he
inquired, pleasantly. "You can take your choice. I'm not particular, but
I can recommend this as a sure thing, if you would like to try it. It
never misses at twenty paces."

"Twenty paces?" repeated Don Miguel, with a faint gleam of hope.

"Of course we won't have any twenty paces to-night," added Freeman, with
a laugh. "I thought it might be a good plan to start at, say, fifteen,
and advance firing. In that way, one or other of us will be certain to
do something sooner or later. Would that arrangement be agreeable to
Senor de Mendoza?"

"Valga me Dios! I am content," said the latter, fetching a deep breath,
and setting his teeth. "I will keep my weapon."

"Muy buen," returned the American. "So now let us take our ground: that
is, if you are quite ready?"

Accordingly they s