He was surprised to find that he did not resent the coming of his enemy as much as he thought he should. He bowed stiffly as the two drew rein, and was ready to be conventionally distant and polite. But he was unprepared for the Duke’s greeting. "What the dickens do you mean by coming out so far," demanded the Duke angrily. "How dare you expose Alicia to this danger!" "Sir!" said the outraged knight. "Get up, get up on your horses," commanded the Duke unceremoniously and like children they obeyed. Alicia stole a look at her lover. She experienced a shock. His face was set and white, just as she had seen it twice before. There were rigid lines about his mouth and face, and his underjaw was thrust forward so that his whole face was transformed. "Trot!" he said shortly, and they began their journey homeward. Now and again Hank would turn in his saddle and look earnestly backward. "Have you any arms?" asked the Duke suddenly. "I have always made it a practice——" began Sir Harry. "Have you got arms?" the Duke cut him short. "No, I haven’t!" The Duke’s lips curled. "You wouldn’t," he said and Sir Harry very rightly resented all that the words implied. "Have you, Tanneur?" the Duke asked. "I’ve got a revolver," said Hal meekly. "Good; you, at least, have a glimmering of intelligence—do you see ’em, Hank." The American shook his head. "There’s a ridge running parallel with us," he said, pointing away to the left. "I guess they are keeping up level, we’ll see ’em soon." The girl looked at the deserted ridge and her heart beat faster. The Duke turned in his saddle and beckoned the guide. "Did you know where you were taking these people?" he asked. "By God and the prophet——!" the man protested. "You didn’t know Valentini was holding these hills, eh?" The Duke’s eyes glittered. "Keep close to us," he ordered, "if you try to bolt when the shooting starts you’re a dead man—sabè?" "Si, señor," stammered the guide. "Shooting! shooting!" spluttered Sir Harry, "is there any danger?" "Yes." "Danger to _us_?" He received no answer. For the next ten minutes they rode without speaking a word. Sir Harry thought a great deal. "As you have taken so much trouble," he said at last, "I feel it is only my duty as a Christian and a gentleman to tell you that I have every reason to believe that an enemy of yours——" "Bill Slewer," interrupted the Duke brusquely. "Yes, I know all about him. In fact I happen to know that he has prepared a little ambuscade for my especial benefit. He is waiting for my return to-night." He said this in a matter-of-fact tone, as though referring to a dinner engagement. Alicia looked at him in some concern, and he smiled. "I’m not worrying about Bill," he said; "it’s——" He pointed to the ridge. VI "Crack!" The Duke’s horse reared, but he pulled it down. "Half right—gallop!"