She remained silent, finishing the cigarette.

"I pause for a positive reply."

"Well, I will give you the frank reply that you require," she said, with an effort. "I am not only so poor a horsewoman that I should be afraid to trust to a horse, but I am so ignorant as to be afraid to trust myself on one. I never was in the saddle in my life. That was not even among my 'extras' at the boarding school."

"That will do, señorita. I am going."

"What do you decide?"

"To push on in the original course. It's longer, but it's less hazardous."

He made his bow and departed.


[CHAPTER XIX.]

THE NEST OF TRAITORS.