"It will, indeed. He is a true man and one of the bravest and most chivalrous I ever knew. I can never forget that he risked his life to save mine. To lose so dear a friend will be a great grief, even though my loss be your gain, señorita."
"No loss, Señor Fortescue. Instead of one friend you will have two. Your gain will be as great as mine."
My answer to these gracious words was to take her proffered hand and press it to my lips.
"_Caramba!_ What is this? Juanita? And you, señor, is it the part of a friend? Do you know?"
"Don't be jealous, Salvador," said Juanita, quietly to her lover, who had come on the balcony unperceived. "Señor Fortescue is a true friend. He is very good; he releases you from your promise. And he seemed so sorry and spoke so nobly that the least I could do was to let him kiss my hand."
"You did right, Juanita. I was hasty; I cry _peccavi_ and ask your forgiveness. And you really give up this expedition for my sake, dear friend? Thanks, a thousand thanks."
"No; I absolve you from your promise. But I shall go, all the same."
"Think better of it, _amigo mio_," he said. "When we formed this project we were both in a reckless mood. Much of the country you propose to explore has never been trodden by the white man's foot. It is a country of impenetrable forests, fordless rivers, and unclimbable mountains. You will have to undergo terrible hardships, you may die of hunger or of thirst, and escape the poisoned arrows of wild Indians only to fall a victim to the malarious fevers which none but natives of the country can resist."
"When did you learn all this? You talked very differently a few days ago."
"I did, but I have been making inquiries."
"True, and that has opened my eyes to many things."
"To the dangers of this expedition, for instance; likewise to the fact that fighting Spaniards is not the only thing worth living for."
"Very likely; love is always stronger than hate, and I confess that I hate the Spaniards much less than I did. Yet, in this matter, I assure you that I do not in the least exaggerate. You must remember that your companions will be half-breeds, men who have neither the stamina nor the courage for really rough work. When the hardships begin they are almost sure to desert you. If we were going together we might possibly pull through, as we have already pulled through so many dangers."