“’Tis Captain Fly-by-Night!” the señora gasped.
“Such I am called, sweet lady. ’Tis unceremonious, I realise, to call upon ladies without being announced, especially when they are in a bed-chamber, and twice especially when a man enters by means of a fireplace that is none too clean. My condition desolates me, señora and señorita, but circumstances are such that I am unable to appear before you properly shaved and dressed in clean clothing. I trust you will overlook the matter this once? It never will happen again—if I can prevent it.”
“You? Here?” The señorita had found her voice now.
“I do not wonder you have difficulty in recognising me——”
“Troubles are not heavy enough upon us but we must endure your presence?” she asked. “It is like Captain Fly-by-Night to affront women when they are unprotected, to offer violence——”
“Have I offered violence, sweet señorita?” he asked pleasantly. “Have I said or done what I should not?”
“Why are you here? Why do you crawl through the chimney like a thing of evil? For some good purpose?”
“Possibly; you may be the best judge of that. My purpose is to remove you from here—the two of you—and take you where there are neither traitors nor hostile Indians—to the mission, to be precise. I understand the close of another day will see siege and perhaps bloodshed at this same San Diego de Alcalá, yet it would be better for you to withstand the one and see the other than to remain at the Fernandez rancho. For surely you realise your situation here. If this revolt fails, as it will, you will be at the mercy of furious gentiles. If it succeeds—well, if it succeeds, you will at least be at the mercy of the traitor who caused it to succeed——”
The girl interrupted him again.
“You speak boldly of traitors, Captain Fly-by-Night. What about yourself?”