ottom up, instead. Lawrence and his new acquaintance seated
themselves on the ground, and Manuela used her saddle as a chair.

Towards the end of their meal the two men became more communicative, and
when Pedro had lighted a cigarette, they began to talk of their
immediate future.

"You don't smoke?" remarked Pedro in passing.

"No," replied Lawrence.

"Not like the most of your countrymen," said the other.

"So much the worse," rejoined the youth.

"The worse for them or for you--which?" asked Pedro, with a significant
glance.

"No matter," returned Lawrence with a laugh.

"Well, now," resumed Pedro, after a few puffs, during the emission of
which his countenance assumed the expression of seriousness, which
seemed most natural to it, "what do you intend to do? It is well to
have that point fairly settled to-night, so that there may be no
uncertainty or delay in the morning. I would not urge the question were
it not that in the morning we must either go on together as travelling
companions, or say our final adieux and part. I am not in the habit of
prying into men's private affairs, but, to speak the bare truth, I am
naturally interested in one whose father has on more than one occasion
done me good service. You need not answer me unless you please,
senhor," added the man with the air of one who is prepared to retire
upon his dignity at a moment's notice.

"Thanks, thanks, Pedro," said the Englishman, heartily, "I appreciate
your kindness, and accept your sympathy with gratitude. Moreover, I am
glad to find that I have been thrown at such a crisis in my fortunes
into the company of one who had regard for my dear father. But I scarce
know what to do. I will give you my confidence unreservedly. Perhaps
you may be able to advise--"

"Stay," interrupted the other, on whose countenance a slightly stern
expression hovered. "Before you give me unreserved confidence, it is
but fair that I should tell you candidly that I cannot pay you back in
kind. As to private matters, I have none that would be likely to
interest any one under the sun. In regard to other things--my business
is not my own. Why I am here and what I mean to do I have no right to
reveal. Whither I am bound, however, is not necessarily a secret, and
if you choose to travel with me you undoubtedly have a right to know."

Young Armstrong expressed himself satisfied. He might have wished to
know more, but, like Pedro, he had no desire to p