madly about, in
the midst of the merry party on the deck. It was the first time Ruth
had seen the gorgeous hues of this celebrated fish, and her excitement
and pleasure over being heralded as its captor were most natural. From
that time on she had pinned her girlish faith to the coat-sleeve of
the tall, reserved young cavalryman. To him she was a child, even
younger by a year than the little sister he had left, and of whom he
soon began to tell her. To her he was a young knight-errant, the hero
of a budding maiden's shyest, sweetest, fondest fancy, and ere long
the idol of the dreams and thoughts she dared not whisper even to
herself. Paquita, with the wisdom of elder sisterhood, more than half
believed she read the younger's heart, but wisely held her peace. No
wonder the little maid had so suddenly been silenced by the
announcement at the pass that that very night she might again see the
soldier boy to whom, in the absence of all others, her heart had been
so constant. No wonder the ride forward to Moreno's was one of
thrilling excitement and shy delight and anticipation; no wonder her
reason, her very life, seemed wrecked in the tragic fate that there
befell them.

And now as he rode swiftly in pursuit Drummond was thinking over the
incidents of that delightful voyage, and marvelling at the strange
fate that had brought the Harvey girls again into his life and under
circumstances so thrilling. Never for an instant would he doubt that
before the sun could reach meridian he should overtake and rescue them
from the hands of their cowardly captors. Never would he entertain the
thought of sustained defence on part of the outlaw band. Full of high
contempt for such cattle, he argued that no sooner were they assured
that the cavalry were close at their heels than most of their number
would scatter for their lives, leaving Pasqual to his fate, and
probably abandoning the wagons and their precious contents on the
road. A sudden dash, a surprise, would insure success. The only fear
he had was that in the excitement of attack some harm might befall
those precious lives. To avert this he gave orders to be passed back
along the column to fire no shot until they had closed with the band,
and then to be most careful to aim wide of the wagons. Every man in
the little troop well knew how much was at stake, and men, all mercy
to their beasts at other times, were now plying the cruel spur.

Five, six o'clock had come and gone. The ch