The Sunday Oregonian., October 13, 1901, PART FOUR, Page 31, Image 31

THE fcrU JSfDAY OKEGOIAN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER ' 13, 1901.
31
pep
SynoptslK of rrpwclir- f -
Ramon Garcia, known as El Sarria, having
been Induced to believe that his wile, Dolores,
Is unfaithful, etabs a village fop. Rafael
Flores, whom he finds presumably kissing Do
lores through the window. His estates are .con
fiscated and he becomes a hunted man. At
the same time a young Scotch adventurer,
Hollo Blair, comes to Spain, and, during an
Inn Quarrel, is aided by John Mortimer, an
Englishman. The two start to "visit Don
Baltasar, abbot of the monastery of Mont
blanch. Blair and Mortimer are entertained
lavishly by the abbot, and meet Etlenne St.
Pierre, a French gallant, -who Is stud jlng Sot
holy orders. These three, with SI Sarria, who
has found protection at the monastery, are com
missioned by the abbot to capture the Queen
Regent and her little daughter. In the Interests
of the church. En route for the camp of Ca
brera, the Carlist General, they pass the
home of 1 farrla. who learns that Dolores
was not false to him. and that his downfall
was plotted by Luis Fernandez. Dolores is im
prisoned In Luis' home, and tha son to whom
she had Just given birth is about to be burled
alle by Luis' brother. Totnas, when 1 Sarria
falls upon him. El Sarria rescues his child
and takes it to the Convent of the .Holy Inno
cents, v. here Concha is immured. Then, aided
by Rollo Blair, he circumvents Fernandez and
finds Dolores. Blair and his companions are
surprised and captures by General Cabrera,
und they cannot prove their connection with
the Carlist cause, because Blair was forced to
leave his credentials at the convent with Con
cha, as Indorsement for his standing as a Car
list. They are sentenced to be shot at day
break. Hollo, through Concha, succeeds in es
tablishing the identity of himself and comrades,
and they are released and forwarded on their
mission by Cabrera. Sergeant Cardono and La
Glralda are sent by Rollo to San Ildefonso,,
near i hjch the Queen Regent and "her court,
deserted by the royal guards, are staying,
plague-bound and in dinger of an attack by
gypsies, to spy out the situation. Cardono vis
its the -gypsy camp, where he reveals, himself
as Jose Maria, the brigand, who. It had been
supposed, was carroted, and where he learns
the plans for the proposed attack on the Queen
Regent. Meanwhile La Giralda gains import
ant Information at the palace, and pn the re
turn of the two scouts. Rollo proceeds, with
his party, to the rescue. They barricade the
palace and resist the gypsies, who succeed
however, by kidnaping the Princees Isabel.
Rollo rescues Isabel, and starts with her lor
the, hermitage. Bodies of plague victims are
posted as sentinels at the doors ami storehouse
about the hermitage and the attack of the
x gypsies is a-ftaited. The gypsies are repulsed,
and Rollo, aided by Concha, restores the 3 oung
Princess to the Queen. The royal party Is cap
tured by Cabrera, who condemns the Queen
Regent, the young Queen Isabel and Stnor
Munos to death.
(Copyright, 1001, by S. R. Crockett)
CHAPTER XLII. (Continued.)
"Why, what Is there to do?" said Ra
mon, with a lift of his eyebrows. "Here
In the camp of Cabrera we are watched,
followed, suspected. Do you see that
fellow yonder, with the smartly set obl
na? He Is the miller's son from near
"Vitorla In Alava. Well, he hath been set
to watch that none of us leaves the camp
unattended I wilt wager that If you and
I were to wander out 50 yards further,
yonder lad would be after us In a trice!"
"Ah!" said Concha, In a brown study.
"Yes, he Is not at all a: bad-looking" boy
and thinks excessively well of himself
like some others I could mention. Now,
El Sarria, can you tell me in which direc
tion lies Vera, the headquarters of Gen
eral Elio?"
"That can I!" said EI Sarria, forgetting
his caution. And he was about to turn
him about and point it out with his hand
when Concha stopped him."
"The miller's son Is craning hlsl neck
to look," she whispered. "Do not point.
Turn about slowly, and the third stone
you throw, let It be In the direction of
Vera,"
El Sarria did as he was bid, and after
the third, ho continued to nrolect Ktonp
Vcra-ward, explaining as he -did eo iUpM
yunaer reaaisn del the road goes, a
hound path, a mere goat's slide, but It is
the dlrectest road. There is open ground
to the very foot of the ascent Many Is
the time I have Tidden there, God forgive
me, on another man's beast!"
Concha's eyes, surveying the landscape,
lighted continually upon the handsome
young Vitorian In the red boina, lifted
again sharply and then sought the
ground. At this El Sarria sighed and
decided mentally that, with the excep
tion of his Dolores, no woman was to be
trusted. If not at heart a rake, she was
by nature a flirt. And so he was about
to leave Concha to her own devices and
seek Rollo, when Concha suddenly spoke,
"Don Ramon' she said, "shall we
walk a few hundred yards up the moun
tains away from the camp and see If we
are really being watched?"
El Sarria smiled grimly to himself and
rose. The stratagem was really, he
thought, too transparent and his Impres
sion was strengthened when Concha pres
ently added: "I will not ask you to re
main IE you would rather go back. Then
we will see whom they are most suspi
cious of, you or L A girl may often
steal a horse when a man dares not look
over the wall."
In the abstract this was incontestable,
hut El Sarria only smiled the more grim
ly. After all Dolores was the only woman
upon whose fidelity one would be Justified
In wagering the last whiff of a good cig
arillo. And as if reminded of a duty.
El Sarria rolled a beauty as he dragged
une huge foot after another slowly ud
the hill in the rear of Concha, who, her 1
love locks spraying In the breeze, her
basqulna held coquettlshly in one hand,
and the prettiest toss of her head for
the benefit of any whom it might con
cern, went leaping upward like a young
roe.
All the while Rollo was sitting below
quite unconscious of this display. His
head was sunk on his hand. Deep mel
ancholy brooded in his heart He rocked
tto and fro as if in pain. Looking do-nn
from the mourftain side Ramon Garcia
pitied him.
"Ah, poor, innocent young man," he
thought, "doubtless he believes that the
heart of this girl is all his own. But all
men are fools a butterfly Is always a
butterfly and an Andaluse an Andaluse
to the day of her death."
Then, turning his thoughts backward,
he remembered the many who had taken
their turn with mandolin and guitar at
the rejas of Concha's window when he
and Dolores lived outside the village of
Sarria. and he (ah, thrice fool) had
taken It Into his thick head to be Jealous.
Well, after all, this was none of hla
business, he thanked the saints. He
Tvas not responsible for the vagaries of a
pretty young women. But, with the cor
ner of an eye more accustomed to glint
ing on rifle barrels than to the flashing
eyes of beauty. El Sarria could make out
that the Vitorian with the red boina was
following them, his gun ever his shoul
der, trying, not with conspicuous success,
to assume the sauntering air of a man
who, having nothing better to do, goes
for a stroll in the Summer evening.
"Tis the first time that ever I saw a
soldier off duty take his musket for a
walk," growled El Sarria, "and why on
the Sierra de Moncayo does the fellow
trick himself out as for a festal day?"
Concha looked back over her shoulder
presumably at Eel Sarria, though vihy
the maiden's glance was so sprightly and
her lips so provoklngly pouted Is a ques
tion hard enough to be propounded for
the doctorlal thesis at Salamanca, For
Ramon Garcia was stolid as an ox of his
native Aragon, and extraneous glances
and pretty gestures were as much wasted
on him as if he chewed the cud. Still
he was not even in these matters so dull
and unobservant as he looked, that is,
when he had reason for being observ
ant "Here comes that young ass of Alava,"
he murmured. ""Well, he is at least get
ting his money's worth. By the saints
favorable to my native parish the holy
Narcissus and Justus, but the burro is
tightening his girths!"
And El Sarria laughed out suddenly
and sardonically. For -he could see the
EWUND
"YOUR MOTHER'S HAIR, WET WITH YOUR MOTHER'S BLOODS" HE CRIED.
lad .pulling his leathern belt a few holes
tighter. In order that he might present
his most symmetrical figure to the eyes
of this dazzling Andalusian witch who
had dropped so suddenly into the Carlist
camp from the place whence all witches
come.
CHAPTER XLIH.
Concha and El Sarria sat down on an
outcrop of red sandstone rock and gazed
back at the prospect. There below them
lay the camp and the house in which was
Imprisoned the reigning- branch of the
royal 'family of Spain. A couple of sen
tries paced to and froJn front. A picket
had established itself for the night in the
back courtyard. Beyond that again stopd
the tent In which the general was at pres
ent TengigCd" itfTlriftkirignlmself from" his
usual sullen ferocity into unconscious
ness. A lltttle nearer and riot far front their
own. campfir.e, at which the sergeant was"
preparing the evening meal, sat Rollo,
sunk in misery, revolving a thousand
plans ahd ready for any desperate ven
ture as soon as night should fall. Concha
grave .a quick "little sigh whenever her eye
fell on him. Perhaps her conscience
pricked her perhaps not With the heart
of a sad woman doth neither stranger
nor friend intermeddle with profit.
The sauntering Vitorian halted within
speaking distance of the pair.
"A fine evening," said he affably. "Can
you give me a light for my cigarette?"
It was on the tip of El Sarrla's tongue
to inquire whether there were not plenty
of lights for his cigarette back at the
camp fires where he had rolled "It But
that most excellent habit which Don Ra
mon had used from boyhood, of never In
terfering in the business of another, kept
him silent
"Why should I," he thought, "burn my
fingers with stirring this 'young foreign
er's olla? Time was when I madoa pretty
mess enough of my own."
So, without speech, he blew the end off
his clgarello and handed It courteously to
the Carlist soldier.
But Concha had no qualms about break
ing the silence. The presence of a duenna
was nowise necessary to the opening of
her lips, which last had also been si
lenced without intervention of a chap
eron. "A fine evening, indeed," she said, smil
ing down at him. "I presume that you
are a foot soldier from, the musket you
carry. It must be a fine one from the
care you take of it But as for me, I like
cavaliers best."
"The piece is as veritable a cross-eyed
old shrew as ever threw a bullet 10 yards
wide of the mark," cried the Alavan,
tossing his musket down on the short elas
tic covering of the hill-plants on which
he stood, "and taking his cigarette lux
uriously jfrom his lips. "Nor am I an in
fantryman, as you suppose. Doubtless the
scnorita did not observe my spurs as I
came. Of the best Potosl sliver they are
made. I am a horseman of the Estella
regiment Our good Carlos the Fifth
(whom God bring to his own!) Is not yet
rich enough to provide us with mucn in
the way of a uniform, but a pair of spurs
and a boina are within reach of ' every
man's purse. Or If he has not 'the
money to buy them, they are to be had
at the first tailor's we may chance to
pa6s!"
"And most becoming they are!" said
Concha, glancing wickedly at the youth,
who sat staring at her and letting his
cigarette go out. " 'TIs small wonder you
are a conquering corps! I have often
heard tell of the Red Bplnas of Es
tella!" "I think I will betake me down to the
camp I smell supper!" broke in El Sar
ria curtly. He began to think that Mis
tress Concha had no further use for him,
and, being assured on this point, he set
about finding other business for himself.
j For with all his simplicity Ramon Gar
cia was an exceedingly practical man.
"The air Is sweet up here: I nrefer it to
j supper," said Concha. "I will follow you
aown in a moment, perhaps this gentle
man desires to keep you company to the
camp and canteen !"
But It soon appeared that the Vitorian
was also Impressed by the marvellous
sweetness of the mountain air, and equal
ly desirous of observing the changeful
lights and lengthening shadows which
the sun of evening cast, sapphire and in
digo. Venetian red and violet-gray
among the peaks of the Sierra de Mon
cayo. When two young people are thus
simultaneously stricken with admira
tion for scenery, their conversation Is sel
dom worth repeating. But the Senorlta
Concha Is so unusual a young lady that in
this case an exception must be made.
"You are doubtless a fine horseman!"
Bhe cried, clasping her hande. "Oh, I
adore all horses! I love to see a man ride
as a man should!"
The young man colore'd. This was, in
truth, the most open Joint in his armor.
Above all things, he prided himself upon
his horsemanship. Concha had Judged as
much from his care of his spurs. And to
be mistaken for an Infantry tramper!
"Ah," he said, "If tho sen6rita could
only see my mare La Perla. I got her
three months ago from the stable of a
black-blooded national, whose house we
burnt near Zaragoza. She has carried me
ever since without a day's lameness.
There is not the like of her in 'the regi
ment." x
At this Concha looked still more pen
sive. Presently she heaved Another sigh
and tapped her slender shoe with a
chance spray of heath.
"Oh, I wish " she began, and then
stopped hastily, as if ashamed,
mi atrDC anytmng 1 can ao ior you, -cried
the young man, enthusiastically,
"you shall not have to wish It long!"
As he spoke he forsook the stone on
which he had been sitting for -another
nearer to the pretty cross-tied shoes of
Andalusian pattern, that showed beneath
the skirts of Concha's basquina.
"Ah, how I love horses," murmured
Concha. "Doubtless, too, yours Is of my
country of the beautiful, sunny Anda
lusia which I may never see again!"
"The mare is indeed believed by all who
have knowledge to have Andalusian
blood In her veins," answered the Alavan.
Concha rose to her feet impulsively.
"Then," she said, "I must see her. ' Also
I am devoured with eagerness to see you
ride."
She permitted her eyes to take In the
trim figure of the Vitorian, who had also
risen to his feet
"Do go and bring her," she murmured.
"I will take care of your musket. You
need not be a moment, and I will wait
for you!"
A little spark kindles a great fire in a
Spanish heart, and the young man, count
ing the cost, rapidly decided that the risk
was worth running. The horses of the
Estella regiment were picketed in a little
hollow a few hundred yards behind the
main camp. It was his duty to watch
these two strangers, of whom one had
already gone back to the camp, while as
to the other well, Adrian Zumaya of the
Province of Alava felt at that moment
that he could cheerfully devote the rest
of his life to watching that other.
In a moment more he had laid down
his musket at Concha's feet, and set off
as fast as he could in the direction of the
horses, keeping well out of sight in tho
trough of a foothill until he was close to
the cavalry lines, and could smell the
honest stable smell which in the open
air mingled curiously with those of aro
matic thyme and resinous Junlner.
In five minutes he was back, riding his
best and sitting like a centaur.
Concha's eyes glistened with pleasure
and she ran impulsively forward to pat
the cream-colored mare, a clean-built,
well-gathered, workman-like steed.
Now the young man was very proud
of the attention and interest this pretty
Andalusian girl was showing in his equip
ment and belongings, to the exclusion of
those of his comrades. Perhaps he might
have been less pleased had he known that
the young lady's Interest extended even
to the gun he had left behind him, the
charge of which she had managed to ex
tract with deft and competent fingers.
"La Perla she Is called," he cried with
enthusiasm,, "and sure none other ever
better deserved the name! 1 wish we
of tho camp possessed a sidesaddle that
the senorlta might try her paces. She
has the easiest motion In the world; it
is like riding in a great lady's coach with
springs, or being carried in a sedan chair.
But she Is of a delicate mouth. Ah, yes.
If the senorlta mounted, it would be
necessary to remember that she must not
bear hardly upon the reins. Then would
La Perla of a certainty take the bit be
tween her teeth and run like the devil
when Father Mateo Is after him with a
holy water springe!"
Concha smiled as the young fellow dis
mounted, flinging himself off with the
lithe grace of youth and constant prac
tice. "You forget," she said, "I also am of
the Province of Flowers. Do not be
afraid. Le Perla and I wilr1 not fall out.
A sidesaddle any saddle. What needs
Concha Cabezos with sidesaddle, when
she hath ridden unbroke Andalusian Jen
nets wild over the meadow of Malrena,
with no better hridle than their manes of
silk and no other saddle than their glossy
hides, brown as toasted bread!"
As she made this boast Concha patted
La Perla's pretty head, who, recognlz
Ing a lover of her kind, muzzled an. af
fectionate nose under the girl's arm.
"Oh, how I wish I could try you," she
cried, "were it but for a moment darling
among steeds, pearl of Andalusia!"
"La Perla is very gentle," suggested
the young cavalier of Alva, as he thought,
most subtly. "With me at tho mare's
head the senorlta mjght safely enough
ride. But for fear of Interruption let us
first proceed a little way out of sight of
the tamp!"
They descended behind the long ridge
till the camp Tvas entirely hidden, and
as they did so, the heart of the young
Vitorian beat fast. They think plenti
fully well of themselves, these younjr men
of Alava and Navarre. And this, one felt
that he would not disgrace the name of
his parent city.
"Only for a moment, senorlta, permit
me there! The senorlta goes up like a
bird! Now wait till I take her head and
beware of Jerking the rein hastily on ac
count Of the dellcacv of the little ladv's
1 mouth! So. La Perla gently and daint
ily I Consider, Jewel of mares, what a
precious burden Is now on thy back."
"A mOmehtfonly'a moment!" cried Con-
cha. her hands apparently busy about her
hair, "this reb6zo is no headgear to ride
in. What shall I do? A handkerchief Is
not large enough. Ah, Cavallero, add to
your kindness by lending me your boina!
I thank you a thousand times! There I Is
that so greatly amiss?"
And she set the red boina daintily upon
her hair, pulling the brim sideways to
shade her eyes from the level evening
sun. and looked down at the young man
who stood at her side.
"Perfect! Beautiful!" cried the young
Vitorian, clasping his hands. "The sight
would set on fire the heart of Don Carlos
himself. Ah, take care. Bear easily on
that rein. Stop, La Perla! Stop! I beseech
you!"
And he started running with all his
might. Alas, in vain. For the wicked
Concha, the moment that he had stepped
back to take In the effect of the red
boina, dropped a heel, Into which she had
privately Inserted half an inch of pin,
taken from her own. headgear, Upon the
flank of La Perla. The mare sprang for
ward, with nostrils distended and a fierce
Jerk of the head. Concha pulled hard
as if in terror, and presently was flying
over the plain toward the cleft of the
shoulder of Moncayo, beyond which lay
the camp of General Elio.
The young Carlist stood a moment
aghast. Then slowly he realized the sit
uation. Whereupon, crying aloud the na
tional oath, he ground his heel into the
ground, kneeled upon one knee, took care
ful aim and clicked down the trigger. No
report followed, however, and a slight
inspection satisfied him that he had been
tricked, duped, made a fool of by a slip
of a girl, a girl with eyes yes, and eye
lashes. However, he wasted no time foolishly. 0
Well he knew that for such mistakes
there was' in Cabrera's code neither for
giveness nor indeed any penalty save one.
Adrian Zumaya. of the Province of Alava,
was young. He desired, to live, if only
that he might meet that girl again at
whose retreating figure he had a moment
before pointed an empty gun barrel. Ah,
he would be even with her yet. So,
wasting no time in leave-taking, he bent
low behind the ridge, and keeping well in
the flhelter of the boulder and under
brush, made a bee-line for the cliffs of
Moncayo, where presently, In one of the
caves, of which El Sarria had spoken, he
counted his cartridges and reloaded his
rifle, with little regret, except when he
wished that the incident had happened
after, instead of before supper.
The young man's loot act before he laid
himself down In his new quarters had
been to lake from his coat the circular
disk with the letters, "C. V.," the badge
of the only Catholic, absolute and legi
timate King. Then approaching the preci
pice as nearly as in the uncertain light
he dared, he cast It from him in the di
rection of the Carlist lines:
"Shoot whom you will at sunrise, Queen
or camp-wench, King or knave," he mut
tered, "You shall not have Adrian Zu
maya of Vitorla to put a bullet through."
So easily was allegiance laid down or
taken up in these civil wars of Spain!
And that night it was noised abroad that
young Zumaya of tho Estella Regiment
of Cavalry had taken his horse and gone
off with the pretty senorlta whom he
had been set to watch.
Upon which half of his comrades envied
him and the other half hoped he would
bo captured, saying: "It will be bad for
Adrian Zumaya of the Estella Regiment
if he comes again within the clutches of
our excellent Don Ramon Cabrera."
And this was a fact of which the afore
said Adrian was exceedingly well aware.
But the most curious point about the
whole matter Is that when he awoke late
next morning he found tho sun shinning
brilliantly into the mouth of the cave.
The camp had vanished; there was a haze
of sulphur In the air which bit his nos
trils, and lo, beneath him on a little plot
of coarse green grass and hill plants, a
cream-colored horse .was quietly feeding.
"It Is my own Pearla," he cried, as,
careless of danger, he hastened down.
There was a red object attached to the
mare's bridle. He went around and de
tached a red boina, to which was pinned
a scrap of paper.
these words:
"I hope you have not missed either of
the objects herewith returned. They
served me nobly. I send my best thanks
for the loan. C. C."
"That Is very well," said the young man,
smiling, as he mounted his horse, "but
all the same had my heels not served
me better than my head your best thanks,
pretty mistress, had come too late. They
would not have kept me from biting the
dust at sunrise with half a dozen bullets
In my gizzard, instead of waking here
comfortably on an empty stomach. Well,
I suppose I must don the cap of liberty
now, and be a Chapelgorrl. It is a pity.
'TIs not one half 60 becoming as the
boina to one of my complexion."
' CHAPTER XLIV.
Yet for all this brave adventure Con
cha was as ,far as ever from meeting
with General Elio. She had not even
reaohed Vera, where It sits on the north
ern slopes of the Moncayo, although
El Sarria had quite correctly, pointed out
the path and La Perla had served her
llke the very pearl and pride ot all An
dalusian steeds.
For once more, as so often In this his
tory and In all men's lives, the cup had
slipped on the way to the lip; the unex
pected had happened, and Concha found
herself in the wrong camp.
She rode at full speed as we have seen,
out of sight, that is, the sight of La
Perla's owner. And owing to the red
boina, which Master Adrian considered to
become her so well, she came very pear
to riding out of'this history. For, through
the higher arroyo of Aranda de Moncayo,
which, like a slice cut clean out of a
bride's cake, divides the shoulder of the
mountain, she rode directly into the com
mand of a field force operating under
the personal command of General Es
perto, the future dictator and present
commonder-In-chief of all the armies of
the Queen Regent.
At first she was nowise startled, think
ing only that Vera and General Elio
were nearer than had been represented.
"Well," she thought, "so much better."
But as she came near she saw the
measured tread of sentries to and fro.
She observed the spick and span tents,
the uniforms and the shining barrels
of the muskets which in another moment,
would have arrested her headlong course.
Concha at once perceived even without
looking at the standard which drooped at
the tent door of the officer In command,
that this could be no mere headquarters of
Carlist partidas.
As women are said by the wise men to
be of their lover's religion if he have one,
and if he have none never to miss it, so
Concha was quite ready to be of the poli
tics which were most likely to deliver
Rollo from his present difficulties. There
fore, takng the red boina from her head,
an act which disturbed the severe preci
sion of her locks, she dashed it full speed
into the camp, crying: "VIvd. la Rema!
Viva Maria Christina! Viva Isabel Se
gunda!" Checking her steed before the standard,
Concha first saluted the surprised group.
Then giving a hand to the nearest (and
best-looking) officer, she 'dismounted with
a spring light as the falling of a leaf from
a tree. With great solemnity she ad
vanced to the staff from which the heavy
standard hung low. and taking the em
broidered fringe between finger and
thumb, touched it with her lips.
Yet If you had called our little Concha
a humbug which in certain aspects of
her character would have been a perfectly
proper description, she would have re
plied, with the utmost simplicity and with
a completely disarming smile: "But I only
did it for Rollo's sake."
Which was true enough, but (strangely
enough) the thought of an audience al
ways stirred the Mistress Concha to do
her best for Rollo's sake!
"Take me to the General," she said, with
a glance around the circle. "I have ridden
from the camp of the enemy to bring him
tidings of the utmost Importance! Every
moment Is precious!"
"But the General Is asleep," a staff offi
cer objected; "he gave orders that he was
not to be called on any account!"
"Tell him that upon his heating my
news depend the lives of the Queen Re
gent and her daughter, the young Queen!
The cause itself hangs in the balance!"
And to hear Concha pronounce the last
words was enough to have made a convert
of Don Carlos himself.
The Commander-in-Chief solved the
difficulty, however, at that very moment
by appearing opportunely at the door of
his tent.
General Espartero at this time was "a
man of 45. His service in South America
had touched his hair with gray. In fig
ure he was heavily built, but, la spite of
fever swamps and battle wounds, still
erect and soldierly.
"What news does tho senorlta bring?"
he asked writh a pleasant smile.
"That I can only tell to yourself, Gen
eral, the girl answered; "my name is
Concha Cabezos, of Seville. My father had
the honor to serve with you In the war of
the independence!"
"And a good soldier he was, senorlta!"
said Espartero, courteously. "I remem
ber him well at Salamanca! He fought
by my side like a brother."
Concha knew better than to blurt out
her news concerning the presence of the
Queen and her daughter ao near his camp.
That wise little woman had her terms to
make, and for so much was prepared to
give so much.
Therefore."" from the first she kept Rollo
In the foreground of her narrative. Ho it
was who single-handed had saved the lit
tle Queen. He it was who had defended
La Granja against the- gypsies. It was, in
deed, somewhat unfortunate that the
Queen Regent should have conceived a
certain prejudice against him. but then
(here Concha smiled) the General knew
well what these great ladles were on
mountain heights one day, in deep sea
abysses the next. Rollo had compelled the
party to leave the infected district of La
Granja for the healthy one of the Slerre
de Moncajo." What else, Indeed, could he
do? The roadMo Madrid was in the hands
of roving partidas of the malignant, as
His Excellency knew, and it was only in
this direction that there was any chance
of safety. That was his whole offence.
Most unfortunately, however, when on
the very threshold of safety, his party had
been ambushed and taken by Cabrera. But
the captor's force was a small one, and
with boldness and caution the whole band
of the mallgants. together with their pris
oners could be secured. The Carlist Gen
eral had threatened to murder the two
Queens and the Duke of Rlanzares at sun
rise, as was his butchery wont; an,d If Es
partero would deliver the royal party, not
only was his future assured, but the for
tunes of all who had taken any part in the
affair.
The General listened carefully, looking
all the while, not at Concha, but down at
the little folding table of Iron which held
a map of Northern Spain. He continued to
draw figures of eight upon it with his
forefinger till Concha's eyes wearied or
watching him, as she nervously waited
for his decision.
"How came you here?" he asked at
last.
"I borrowed a mare and a Carlist boina
and rode hither as fast as horseflesh
could carry me. I heard from a' friend
of the cause that your command was in
the neighborhood."
"And from whom did you receive that
Intelligence? I thought the fact was
pretty well concealed? Indeed, we only
arrived an hour ago."
Concha cast about for a name. The nec
essary fiction 'was also, of course, . 'for
Rollo's sake.' A thought struck her. She
would serve another comrade, as It were,
en passant.
"From a good friend in the Carlist
ranks,r she said," one Sergeant Car
dono." The General looked a little nonplussed,
for like many generals of all nationali
ties, he had no slight penchant for om
niscience." "I never heard of him," he said, sharp
ly. "Who may he be?"
Concha leaned yet closer and laid a
small, soft brown hand gently upon the
General's gold-embroidered cuff. The
General, not being so simple as he looked,
drew back his arm a little, so that the
hand rested a moment on his wrist (for
Rollo's sake) before It was gently with
drawn. "You have heard of Jose Maria of Ron
da?" she whispered.
The General's face lighted up and as
swiftly dulled down.
"Certainly, what Andalusian has not?"
he said. "But Joso Maria Is dead. He was
executed at Salamanca."
"Ah, said Concha, "that tale was for
the consumption of Don Carlos and his
friends. In fact he Is the best spy we Na
tionals ever had aye, or ever shall have."
"Ah," said Espertero, lost in thought.
There were some matters which seemed
to need clearing up, but on the whole
the thing looked probable.
Concha, In her whllrwind of excitement,
would have liked the General to attack
the Carlist camp immediately, but the
more cautious Don Baldomero only shook
his head.
"That is all very well when a small
force Is to be crushed at any cost," he
said, "or a strong position taken along
lines previously studied by daylight, or
opened up by artillery. But when our ob
ject is to preserve the lives of persons
so important to the world as the royal
family of Spain, lying at the mercy of
ruffians who would not hesitate to mur
der every one of them in cold blood, it
is best to wait till the morning. Lo. I
will push -forward my forces on all sides,
and, If all goes well, surprise Cabrera at
the earliest glimmer of dawn."
"And 'my friends who have suffered so
much to bring this about?" urged Con
cha, anxiously, "what of them?"
"I promise you on my honor that they
shall be protected and rewarded!" said
Espartero.
"And brave Don Rollo, the Scot even
if the Queen continues to dislike him?"
persisted Concha.
"Senorlta," smiled the General, "it will
be a vastly greater peril to the young
man, I fear, if you like him! He will
have so many Jealous rivals on his
hands!"
For Baldomero Esparlero was also an
Andalusian, and the men of that province,
high and low, never permit themselves
to get out of practice when there Is room
for a compliment.
Concha looked the General full in the
face with her deep, magnificent eyes,
aquamarine, violet, or dark gray, accord
ing to the light upon them. They were
(as sho would sometimes own) fallacious
eyes, and upon occasions were wont to
express far more than their owner meant
to stand by. But the latent lover behind
them once fixed, these same eyes could
convince the most skeptical of the unal
terable nature of the affection which they
professed. So it was In the present in
stance. Concha merely looked at the Gen
eral squarely for a moment and said
without flinching, "I love him!"
Espartero stooped and touched her brow
lightly with his lips, graciously and ten
derly as a father might upon a solemn
occasion. Then he gather6d up her little
brown hands in his. They were trem
bling now, not rock-steady, as when they
held the musket on the balcony of La
Granja.
"My daughter," be said, "do not fear
for your young Scot. Queens and Con
sorts and Premiers are not the most pow
erful folk in Spain not. at least, so long
as Baldomero Espartero, the Andalusian,
commands these good lads out there."
Then the future dictator stepped to his
tent door, summoned a staff officer, and
ordered him to put a tent at the disposal
of the young senorlta. "Request the com
mandants of the several columns to come
immediately to me at headquarters, as
also the gypsy spy, Ezquerra, our late
headsman of Salamanca!"
Thus did Mistress Concha "for Rollo's
sake."
CHAPTER XLV.
But Rollo himself, our firebrand from
the slopes of Fife Lothians what of him?
The foxes that Samson sent among the
cornfields of Philistla with the Are at
their tails ran not more swiftly than his
burning thoughts.
After a long time Rollo raised his head.
With supremist indifference he heard
about him the first hubbub of the hue
and cry after Concha. So heavy was his
heart within him that (to his shame be it
writ!) he had never even missed her, as
she went up the mountain. Yet she
would have missed him had 50 Queens
and Princesses been in danger of their
lives aye, and her own honor, and that
of her race at stake throughout all their
generations.
Rollo, however, gave no heedf but fol-
lov.lng his Intent, stalked slowly and
steadily to the General's quarters.
"I am Colonel Rollo Blair," said the
young man. "I brought hither the royal
party, and I must see General Cabrera."
"Young man," said the other. In good
English, "I am a countryman of yours
Insofar, that Is, as a poor southern mabe,
whose ancestors fought on the wrong
sldo at Bannockburn. But for your own
sake I advise you not to disturb the Gen
eral at this hour. The occupation cannot
be recommended on the score of health."
"I thank you, sir," said Rollo; "but I
have my duty to do and my risks to run
as well as you. And If you, an English
man, desire to be art and part In the
shooting of a Queen mother and her lit
tle royal daughter, well I wish you Joy
of your conscience and your birthright of
Englishman."
The other shrugged his shoulders and
answered: "I have nothing to do with
the matter. Colonel Rollo Blair brings
the party hither and General Cabrera
shoots them. You two can divide the re
sponsibility between you as you please 1"
"That Is Just what I mean to do," quoth
Rollo, and lifted the flap of the tent
door.
"General Cabrera," he said, "I would
speak to you."
An Inarticulate growl alone replied, and
though there was more wild beast wratn
than permission to enter In the tone,
Rollo lifted the flap and entered.
Cabrera was lying on a camp bed, his
face a deathly white, from which a pair
of small, bloodshot eyes peered out with
startling effect. He had bound a red
handkerchief about his black hair, and
altogether his appearance was more that
of an enraged tiger roused from the en
joyment of his kill than that of a lead
ing General in the service of the most
Christian and Catholic of pretenders.
"Your Excellency," said Rollo, "I have
come to urge you to reconsider your in
tentions with regard to Queen Maria Cris
tina, widow of the late King, and the
child, her daughter, and that for several
reasons."
"Let me hear them as briefly as may
be, senor," thundered Cabrera. "I shall
then make up my mind whether It would
not make for the King's peace that silch
a firebrand adventurer as you should not
be shot along with them. And I can tell
you this, that if all the pretty girls in"
the peninsula were to come with a whole
herd of papal bulls, they would not save
you a. second time!"
As he spoke Cabrera reared himself on
his elbow and glared at Rollo. who stood
still, holding the tent flap in his hand.
"Theae are my reasons for this request.
General, said Rollo. without taking the
least notice of the threat: "First, such
an act would alienate the sympathy of the
whole civilized world from the cause of
Don Carlos."
"For that I do not give the snap of my
flnger," cried Cabrera. "I bite my thumb
at the civilized world. What has it done
for us or for Don Carlos, either? Next!"
"Secondly, I appeal to your pity, as a
man with the heart of a man within his
breast This lady hath never done you
any wrong. Her daughter is little more
than a babe. Spare them, and If an ex
ample must be made, be satisfied with
executing- Senor Munoz, and myself. I
shall right willingly stand up by his side,
if the shedding of my blood will save the
Queen and the little Princess!"
"And the fair maid, Dona Concha?" said
Cabrera, mockingly; "what would she say
to such an act of self-sacrifice?"
"She would rejoice to see me do my
duty, General! 'said Roilo, with confi
dence. Cabrera laughed long, loud and scorn
fully. (To be continued.)
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