And Ramon, though he stood for several minutes by the rock smiling queerly and staring down the arroyo, caught not the slightest glimpse of her after she left him.

He knew that she would deliver faithfully his message to Bill Holmes, she had given her word.

That was one great advantage, considered Ramon, in dealing with those direct, uncompromising natures.

She might torment him with her aloofness and her reticence, but once he had won her to a full confidence and submission he need not trouble himself further about her loyalty.

She would tell Bill Holmes--and, what was vastly more important, she would do it secretly; he had not dared to speak of that, but he thought he might safely trust to her natural wariness.