Evening star., 1901-10-12
CHAPTER XLIII.
The Red BOinnS of Nayarre.


Concha and FL Sarria sat down on an out
crop of red sandstone rock and gazed back
at the prospect There below them lay
the camp and the house in which was i'm
prisoned the reigning branch of the royal
family of SPAIN A couple of sentries
paced TO and fro in front. A picket had
established itself for the night in the back
courtyard. Beyond that again stood the
tent in which the general was at present
engaged in drinking himself from his usual
sullen ferOcity into Inconsistencies.
A little nearer. and not far from their
own campfire, at which the sergeant was
preparing the evening meal. sat RoIlo. sunk
in misery. revolving a thousand plans and
ready for any desperate venture SO soon
as night should fell. Concha gave quick
little sigh whenever her eye fell on him.
Perhaps her conscience pricked her-per-
haps not. With the heart of sad woman
doth neither stranger nor friend intermed-
die with profit
The sauntering Vitorian halted within
speaking distance of the pair
a fine evening he said affably. "Can
You give me a light for my cigarette?'
1t was on the tip of FL Sarria's tongue to
inquire whether there We're not plenty of
lights for his cigarette back at the camp
fires where he had rolled it But that most
excellent habit. which Don Ramon had
used from boyhood, of never interfering
in the business of another kept him silent.
Why should L. he thought, burn my
fingers with stirring this young foreigners
olla2 Time was when l made a pretty mess
enough of my own
So without speech he blew the end off his
cigarilIo and handed it courteousIy to the
Carlist soldier.
But Concha had no qualms about breaking
the silence. The presence of a duenna was
nowise necessary to the opening of her
lips, which last had also been silenced with
out intervention of a chaperon.
"A fine evening. indeed" she said, smil-
ing down at him Il presume that you are
a foot soldier from the musket you carry
1t must be fine one from the care you
take OF IT, But as for me, l like cavaliers
best"
The piece is as veritable a cross-eyed
old shrew as ever threw a bullet ten yards
wide of the mark" cried the Alavan, toss
ing his musket down on the short elastic
covering of hill-plants on which he stood,
and taking his cigarette luxuriously from
his lips Nor am I an infantryman, as
you suppose. Doubtless the senorita did
not observe my spurs as l came. OF the
best Potosi silver they are made l am
horsemau Of the Esterra regiment Our
good Carlos the Fifth (whom God bring
TO his own3 Is not yet rich enough to pro-
vide us with much in the way of uniform
but pair or spurs and a boiDa are within
reach of every mans purse. Or IL he has
not the money to buy them they are to be
had at the first tailor's We may chance to
passr'
And most becoming they arer said
Conchas glancing wickedly at the youth.
who sat staring at her and letting his ciga-
rette go out 'Tis small wonder You are
a cOnquering corps! I have often heard tell
of the Red Boinas of Estellar"
Il think / will betake me down to the
camp-I smell support broke In FL Sarria,
curtly. He began to think that Mistress
Concha had no further use for him, and.
being assured on this point he set about
finding other business for himself. For
with all his simplicity Ramon Garcia was
an exceedingly practical man.
The air Is sweet up here. I prefer it to
supper said Concha- II will follow You
down In moment. Perhaps this gentle
man desires to keep you company to the
camp and canteenr'
But IL soon appeared that the Victorian
was also impressed by the marvellous
sweetness of the mountain air. and equally
desirous of observing the changeful lights
and lengthening shadows which the sun
of evening cast, sapphire and indigo, We
netian red and violet gray. among the peaks
of the Sierra de Moncayo. When two
young people are thus simultaneously
stricken with admiration for scenery
their conversation is seldom worth repeat
ing. But the Senorita Concha is so unusual
young lady that in this case an exception
must be made.
You are doubtless a fine horsemanr'
she cried. clasping her hands. "Oh. adore
all horses, / love 10 see man ride as
man shouldr'
The young man colored. This was, In
truth. the most open joint in his armor
Above all things he prided himself upon
his horsemanship. Concha had judged as
much from his care of his spurs. And to
be mistaken for an infantry tramper.
"Ah.' he said. if the senorita could only
see my mare La Perla. 1 got her three
months ago from the stable of q black
biooded National. whose house We burnt
near Zaragoza- She has carried me ever
not the like of her in the regiment"
At this Concha looked still more pensye