will, if it pleases you, move upstairs, Mr. Gordon," he announced.
"To-night I must ask you to remain in the house with me to give those
poor fools a little start on their ride for freedom. We shall find
better beds upstairs no doubt."

"They're hitting the trail, are they?" Dick asked negligently as he
followed his guide.

"Yes. If you'll give me your parole till morning, Mr. Gordon, I shall be
able to return to Miss Valdes and let her know that all is well.
Otherwise I shall be obliged to sit up and see that you do not get
active in interfering with the ride of Pablo and his friend."

"I'll stay here till seven o'clock to-morrow morning. Is that late
enough? Then I'll see the sheriff and start things moving."

Pesquiera bowed in his grand, formal manner. "The terms satisfy. I wish
Mr. Gordon a very good night's sleep. This room formerly belonged to the
brother of Miss Valdes. It is curious, but she was here airing this room
only to-day. She did not know you were in the house at the time. _Adios,
Senor._"

"Good night, Mr. Pesquiera. I reckon I'm in your debt quite a bit. Sorry
we couldn't agree about this little matter of what to do with the boys."

Manuel bowed again and withdrew from the room.

Inside of ten minutes Gordon was fast asleep.

CHAPTER XIX

VALENCIA ACCEPTS A RING

Manuel found Valencia pacing up and down the porch of the hotel in a
fever of impatience. Instantly at sight of him she ran forward quickly.

"Where have you been? What have you done with Sebastian? Why did you
leave without telling me about it?" she demanded.

"One question at a time, my cousin," he answered, smiling at her. "But
let us walk while I tell you."

She fell into step beside him, moving with the strong, lissom tread that
came from controlled and deliberate power.

"What is it you have to tell? If you were called away, why did you not
leave a message for me?" she asked, a little imperiously.

"I wasn't called away, Valencia. You were excited and angry. My opinion
was that Sebastian would speak if the matter was put to him right. So I
cut the rope that tied him and we ran away through the back door of the
hotel."

Her dark eyes, proud and passionate, began to smoulder. But the voice
with which she answered him was silken smooth.

"I see. You pretended to be working with me--and then you betrayed me.
Is that it?"

"If you like," he said with a little shrug. "I backed my judgment
against your impatienc