"No: stay with us," said Mrs. O'Hagan. "I don't want to lose sight of you."
"Better not, señorito," added Romaña. "We must be careful as we approach the place where the paths join. If the escape has been discovered, and they are pursuing, they will come by the other path: it is shorter. Why did you choose this one, señor?"
"It was recommended to us by that ragged old man who sells lottery tickets. Is he a friend of yours?"
"He is a caballero, señor," replied Romaña with dignity. "Señor Galdos was once a sub-prefect."
"Was he indeed? He has been a very good friend to us, and I hope we may be able to reward him some day. How much farther is it? The path is becoming very rough."
"It is several miles, señor; but if all is well when we come to the junction of paths, there will be no need to hurry for the rest of the way."
Soon after this the path diverged from the stream, which wound away to the westward. Romaña now recommended that the party should ride slowly, while he himself scouted ahead on foot. The track here was too rough for the motor-cycle to gain anything in point of speed.
"When you come to a large stone, señor, which I will place in the middle of the track," said Romaña, "then halt. It will be no more than a mile from the forked path, and you will do better to go no farther until I return to you, lest the clatter of hoofs should be heard."
He went on and disappeared. About two miles farther on the riders came to the arranged signal. They halted, the men dismounted, and Tim, leaning against the flank of his mother's horse, and clasping her hand, begged her to tell him how the escape had been contrived.
"You had heard the result of the trial?" she asked.