to these
the old woman made an addition of her own--a wonderful _rebozo_. She
brought it forth from among her own possessions and offered it
affectionately.

"But shall I need it?" asked Sylvia.

Very surely she might, she was assured. She would not wish to dance in her
riding costume, certainly. And it might turn chilly after nightfall. She
would find that other young women had such garments to protect them. And
this particular _rebozo_ was quite wonderful. She pointed out its
wonderful qualities. It was of so delicate a weave that it might have been
thrust into a man's pocket; yet, unfolded, it proved to be of the
dimensions of a blanket. And there was warmth in it. She folded it neatly
and explained how it might be tied to the pommel of the saddle. It would
not be in the way.

Sylvia affected much gratitude for such kindness and foresight, though she
thought it unlikely that she would need a wrap of any sort.

There was an early supper, Antonia contributing a quite unprecedented
alacrity; and then there was a cheerful call from the road. The horses had
been brought.

Sylvia ran out to inspect them; and Harboro, following, was not a little
amazed to perceive how important a matter she considered the sort of
horses he had engaged. Horses were not a mere medium of travel to Sylvia;
they were persons in the drama, and it was highly important that they
should fit into the various romantic demands of the occasion. Harboro had
stipulated that they should be safe horses, of good appearance; and the
boy from the stable, who had brought them, regarded them with beaming eyes
when Harboro examined them. The boy evidently looked at the affair much as
Sylvia did--as if the selection of the horse was far more important than
the determining of a destination.

"They seem to be all right," ventured Harboro.

"Yes, they are very good horses," agreed Sylvia; but she sighed a little.

Then there was the clatter of hoofs down the road, and Valdez appeared.
He, too, bestrode a decidedly prosaic-appearing animal; but when Harboro
exclaimed: "Ah, it's Valdez!" Sylvia became more interested in the man
than in the horse. It would be a pity to have as companion on a long ride
a man without merits. She was not very favorably impressed by Valdez. The
man acknowledged his introduction to her too casually. There were no
swift, confidential messages in his eyes. He seemed to be there for the
purpose of devoting himself to Harboro, not to he