gling of incoherent Spanish and English; but to Gale it was
mellow, deep, unutterably tender, a voice full of joy, fear, passion,
hope, and love. Upon Gale it had an unaccountable effect. He found
himself thrilling, wondering.

Thorne led the girl to the center of the room, under the light where
Gale stood. She had raised a white hand, holding a black-laced
mantilla half aside. Dick saw a small, dark head, proudly held, an
oval face half hidden, white as a flower, and magnificent black eyes.

Then Thorne spoke.

"Mercedes--Dick Gale, an old friend--the best friend I ever had."

She swept the mantilla back over her head, disclosing a lovely face,
strange and striking to Gale in its pride and fire, its intensity.

"Senor Gale--ah! I cannot speak my happiness. His friend!"

"Yes, Mercedes; my friend and yours," said Thorne, speaking rapidly.
"We'll have need of him. Dear, there's bad news and no time to break
it gently. The priest did not come. He must have been detained. And
listen--be brave, dear Mercedes--Rojas is here!"

She uttered an inarticulate cry, the poignant terror of which shook
Gale's nerve, and swayed as if she would faint. Thorne caught her, and
in husky voice importuned her to bear up.

"My darling! For God's sake don't faint--don't go to pieces! We'd be
lost! We've got a chance. We'll think of something. Be strong!
Fight!"

It was plain to Gale that Thorne was distracted. He scarcely knew what
he was saying. Pale and shaking, he clasped Mercedes to him. Her
terror had struck him helpless. It was so intense--it was so full of
horrible certainty of what fate awaited her.

She cried out in Spanish, beseeching him; and as he shook his head, she
changed to English:

"Senor, my lover, I will be strong--I will fight--I will obey. But
swear by my Virgin, if need be to save me from Rojas--you will kill me!"

"Mercedes! Yes, I'll swear," he replied hoarsely. "I know--I'd rather
have you dead than-- But don't give up. Rojas can't be sure of you, or
he wouldn't wait. He's in there. He's got his men there--all around
us. But he hesitates. A beast like Rojas doesn't stand idle for
nothing. I tell you we've a chance. Dick, here, will think of
something. We'll slip away. Then he'll take you somewhere.
Only--speak to him--show him you won't weaken. Mercedes, this is more
than love and happiness for us. It's life or death."

She became quiet, and slowly recovered control of hers