"Honestly, I don't know; Altiera isn't the man to take an outsider into his confidence."
"Still, you know something."
"Well," Carson said quietly, "I'm sorry I must refuse to tell you my surmises. No doubt you'll understand my obstinacy."
"Aren't you rash, señor?" Blanca asked in a meaning tone.
"On the whole, I think not. Of course, I'm in your hands, but as I've promised not to give you away, I expect these gentlemen won't take an unfair advantage of me. Then, from what I know about Don Martin, I feel that I can trust his daughter."
Blanca smiled.
"Well," she said, "I suppose we must let you go. You are at liberty to leave us when you wish."
Grahame and Walthew agreed, and Carson shook hands with them.
"It's evident that your only reason for stopping near Rio Frio is that Miss Sarmiento finds it impossible to walk any farther," he remarked. "She's welcome to my mule. Gomez requisitioned it from a man called Silva, who's suspected of sympathizing with your party. I believe I know where to find another animal."
They thanked him and let him go; and soon after he vanished into the darkness, Blanca mounted the mule and they set off again.