There was the hammock, almost within reach of my hand! It seemed to swing to and fro. I cannot say if this were mere deception; and so I crept nearer, just to satisfy my doubts. At last I reached the side, and peeped in. All I could see was the outline of a figure wrapped in a mantle, and a mass of soft silky hair, which fell over and shaded the face. It was some time before my eyes grew accustomed to the deep shadow of the spot; but by degrees I could perceive the profile of a young and beautiful face resting upon one arm, the other hung negligently at one side, and the hand drooped over the edge of the hammock. The attitude was the very perfection of graceful ease, and such as a sculptor might have modelled. What a study, too, that hand, whose dimpled loveliness the starlight speckled! How could I help touching it with my lips?--the first time, with all the hallowed reverence a worshipper would vouchsafe to some holy relic; the second, with a more fervent devotion; the third, I ventured to take the hand in mine and slightly press it. Did I dream? Could the ecstasy be no more than fancy?--I thought the pressure was returned. She turned gently around, and in a voice of surpassing softness whispered, "Tell me your name, Senhor Caballero?" I whispered low, "Con Cregan." "Yes, but what do your sisters call you?" "I have none, Señhora." "Your brothers, then?" "I never had a brother." "How strange! nor I either. Then how shall I call you?" "Call me your brother," said I, trying to repossess myself of the hand she had gently withdrawn from my grasp. "And will you call me Maria?" said she, gayly. "If you permit it, Maria. But how will Fra Miguel think of it?" "Ah! I forgot that. But what can he say? You saved my life. I should have been carried away, like poor Sancho, but for you. Tell me how you chanced to be here, and where you are going, and whence you come, and all about you. Sit down there, on that stone. Nay, you need n't hold my hand while talking." "Yes, but I 'm afraid to be alone here in the dark, Maria," said I. "What a silly creature it is! Now begin." "I 'd rather talk of the future, Maria, dearest. I 'd rather we should speak of all the happy days we may spend together." "But how so? Once at Bexar, I 'm to wait at the monastery till my father sends his mules and people to fetch me home; meanwhile, you will have wandered away Heaven knows where." "And where do you call home, Maria?" "Far away, beyond the Rio Grande, in the gold country, near Aguaverde." "And why should I not go thither? I am free to turn my steps whither I will. Perhaps your father would not despise the services of one who has some smattering of knowledge upon many a theme." "But a Caballero--a real Señhor--turn miner! They are all miners there."