"Come, amigos," Morando cried, "prepare a temporary couch for Señora Valentino by the roadside." A dozen ponchos fell from caballeros' shoulders, and the women improvised a comfortable bed from them on the thickly interwoven green grass, the soldier holding the insensible woman in his arms the while. He laid her, still fainting, on the bed, softly odorous of the growing things about. In tiny pulsings the blood flowed, reddening her light-colored riding-habit, and spattering the costly fabric of the ponchos. The Captain bound his handkerchief tightly around her arm midway between wrist and elbow. The bleeding ceased. "Señors, who among you has a flask of aguardiente?" Several were offered. "Will one of the ladies bathe her face and forehead with the liquor?" Señora Higuera did the service. Morando was tightly bandaging the injured member with strips torn from handkerchiefs when the patient opened her eyes. "My arm feels asleep, Don Alfredo," she murmured. "Where am I?" "With your friends, and safe," replied Morando. Color gradually came into her face and lips. Her breath no longer fluttered. "O, the poor little fellow so wanted to save his life that I couldn't see him lose it," she murmured. "The hawk passed blow for blow with me. His talon pricked through my glove." Word of the mishap had gone to Señor and Señora Barcelo, who were riding in the vanguard of the procession. The complaining of the Barcelo carreta mingled with the puffing of the Colonel's horse as the two raced back. "O, Silvia! Silvia! What dreadful thing has happened?" wailed Señora Barcelo. "What has happened is over, sister mine. Thanks to our friends here, and Captain Morando in particular, I am nothing the worse." "Doubtless! Doubtless! How clumsy your arm looks tied up that way! Well, a peon reported you stricken down by an attacking eagle. How about it?" inquired Barcelo. Señora Valentino quickly detailed the story. "Humph! A pretty state of affairs! Come, shall we be going? Matters of great importance wait my arrival at the capitol." "There is no reason to wait. I am able to travel. Amigos, adelante!" playfully waving her hand toward the south. Riders and carretas set out, Señora Valentino moving slowly, the soldier by her side. The Colonel, making sure all was well with his sister-in-law, insisted on traveling at full speed. His wife's carreta plunged and squeaked and rolled after him. "My dear," called Señora Higuera, in a little while, "you are growing pale again. Stay with us at Aguas Calientes until you feel stronger. We'll send a peon messenger on a swift horse, to reach your sister with explanations. Come, Señora Valentino, we are at the turn of the road." "I fear, señora, your arm is swelling. It will be better to dismount at the Higuera hacienda house and have the wound carefully bathed in warm water," counseled Morando.