Sol's head was drooping now. Another
second showed Ladd still in the saddle.
The ranger was leading Blanco Diable--spent--broken--dragging
--riderless.
IX
AN INTERRUPTED SIESTA
NO man ever had a more eloquent and beautiful pleader for his
cause than had Dick Gale in Mercedes Castaneda. He peeped
through the green, shining twigs of the palo verde that shaded his
door. The hour was high noon, and the patio was sultry. The only
sounds were the hum of bees in the flowers and the low murmur of
the Spanish girl's melodious voice. Nell lay in the hammock, her
hands behind her head, with rosy cheeks and arch eyes. Indeed,
she looked rebellious. Certain it was, Dick reflected, that the
young lady had fully recovered the wilful personality which had
lain dormant for a while. Equally certain it seemed that Mercedes's
earnestness was not apparently having the effect it should have had.
Dick was inclined to be rebellious himself. Belding had kept the
rangers in off the line, and therefore Dick had been idle most of
the time, and, though he tried hard, he had been unable to stay
far from Nell's vicinity. He believed she cared for him; but he
could not catch her alone long enough to verify his tormenting
hope. When alone she was as illusive as a shadow, as quick as a
flash, as mysterious as a Yaqui. When he tried to catch her in
the garden or fields, or corner her in the patio, she eluded him,
and left behind a memory of dark-blue, haunting eyes.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194