And it was a matter of very few moments before they clattered with indecent speed out of the plaza and away up the road. The _vaquero_ sprang from the roadside when they had gone barely half a mile, and the three of them galloped briskly away and over a hill towards El Escondido. CHAPTER XIX CONFESSION Raquel and Georgie had been back for two days. Already some of the peóns who had fled El Escondido on the night of the raid were straggling in from the hills. They told of the exciting speeches and fine promises made by Manuel, who had also said that El Escondido would be confiscated or destroyed by the government. But they had learned that he was nothing but _puro bandido_, not a true _revolucionista_ at all. Upon the discovery of his perfidy they had all come back, with one exception, to support their _padrón_. So the work of the ranch was gradually resumed, and to Raquel fell the delightful task of riding over the “hidden range” to inspect her cattle. If she could only get them out of the country she would accomplish her mission after all. It only remained to wait for an opportunity. Lois went everywhere with Raquel. She had recovered her strength. When Raquel had crept upstairs to the little balcony on the night of her return with Georgie, she had found Lois sitting by her window, dressed and waiting. “Raquel!” Lois had leaped up joyfully. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re back! You found Georgie! I can see it in your face.” “Yes, he’s down stairs,” Raquel smiled. “I hope you and Don Nestor weren’t too worried over my absence. We got back as soon as we could.” “Oh, my dear, you must be exhausted. Let me help you into a fresh gown. Do lie down and I will have Concha bring you something to eat. She’s had chicken soup ready for hours, and tamales.” Lois was busy making Raquel comfortable. “Oh, I’m not so tired,” Raquel protested. “We slept on the way about four hours, at noon time. But I’m awfully glad you’re up, Lois.” But Raquel _was_ tired; almost too tired to rest. Finally she drank a hot potion concocted by Piedad and Don Nestor, and fell asleep. Georgie was already wrapped in noisy slumber, having eaten a preposterous meal to Piedad’s rapture. When Raquel woke at noon the next day Lois was sitting beside her. From then on she was rarely far from Raquel’s side. At first it seemed strange to Raquel to have a girl companion constantly with her. At times it brought school days sharply back. “How different this all is,” Lois said the next morning, as she watched Raquel dress. “I never thought I could like it down here, but do you know, Raquel, I love it. “I’ve been thinking, lately; somehow I’ve been different; it’s been different with me, Raquel, since that ride we had over the desert. You’ve been so wonderful. I don’t see how I could ever have been so hateful to you. It seems as if it were another person.” “Well, I guess perhaps I’m a bit different now, too,” Raquel offered awkwardly.