And the answer, then, is my rose and my letter returned, and
no word else. Madre de Dios! That he should flout me thus! Now will I
tell Jose to kill him--and kill him quickly. For that blue-eyed gringo I
hate!" Then she flung herself across her bed and wept.
Let the tender-hearted be reassured. The senorita slid from sobbing into
slumber, and her dreams were pleasant, so that she woke smiling. That
night she sang a love-song to Jose, behind the passion vines; and her
eyes were soft; and when young Don Jose pulled her fingers from the
guitar strings and kissed them many times, her only rebuke was such a
pursing of lips that they were kissed also for their mutiny.
After awhile the senorita sang again, while Jose, his neck held a little
to one side because of his hurt, watched her worshipfully, and forgot
how much he had suffered because of her. She was seventeen, you see, and
she was lovely to look upon; and as for a heart--perhaps she would
develop one later.
CHAPTER XXV
ADIOS
The sun was sliding past the zenith when Jack yawned himself awake. He
lay frowning at the ceiling as if he were trying to remember something,
sat up when recollection came, and discovered that Dade was already up
and getting into his jacket.
"Dade, let's go back to the mine," he suggested abruptly, reaching for
his boots. "You aren't crazy about this job here, are you? I know you
didn't want to take it, at first.
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