ts. Isn't it, Manuela?" asked
Lawrence in Spanish.

"Si, senhor," replied the girl, with sparkling eyes and a dazzling
display of little teeth which seemed to indicate that she fully
appreciated what was said.

"Strange," thought Lawrence--"so grave and pensive, yet at times so
sprightly; so intelligent, yet, of course, so ignorant; so very brown,
and yet so pretty. What a pity she is not white!"

He only said, however, with a sigh, "Is the gale abating, Quashy?"

To which the negro replied, with a responsive sigh, "Yis, massa,--it
am."

After two days' delay our travellers were enabled to proceed. While
their host was busy saddling the mules Lawrence took Pedro aside.

"I am anxious about that bandit," he said. "It is not his power of
recovering I am afraid of, but our host's willingness to take care of
him."

"Have you not spoken to him about it, senhor, and paid him in advance,
like the good Samaritan?"

"Truly I have, but that does not secure fidelity in our host, and the
man's life may depend on his treatment during the next few days. I
almost wish that we might delay our journey a little."

"That cannot be," returned Pedro, with decision. "Besides, it is
unnecessary, for I have spoken to our host, and told him to take good
care of the fellow."

Lawrence could scarcely forbear smiling at the quiet assurance with
which Pedro spoke.

"Surely," he said, "you cannot count on his being influenced by your
commands after you are gone?"

"Yes, senhor, I can count on that, for he knows me, and I occasionally
pass this way."

Pedro turned away as he spoke and went towards the mules, the fastenings
of whose loads he carefully inspected. Lawrence went to look after his
own animal with his mind much relieved, for the manner of Pedro was such
as to inspire irresistible, almost blind, confidence.

During the first mile or two, as they rode along, our hero puzzled
himself in a vain attempt to analyse the cause of this confidence. Was
it the result of that imperturbable self-possession and invariable
readiness of resource which marked the guide; or was it the stern
truthfulness of his dark eyes, coupled with the retiring modesty and
gravity of his demeanour? Perhaps it was the union of these
characteristics. He could not tell.

While thus engaged in profound thought he was roused by Manuela riding
alongside of him, and pointing upwards with animated looks while she
exclaimed--

"See--look--senhor!"