realization.  These rebels and guerrillas—­what lean, yellow, bearded wretches!  They curiously watched Link as he went working over the car.  No two were alike, and all were ragged.  They had glittering eyes sunk deep in their heads.  They wore huge sombreros of brown and black felt, of straw, of cloth.  Every man wore a belt or sash into which was thrust some kind of weapon.  Some wore boots, some shoes, some moccasins, some sandals, and many were barefooted.  They were an excited, jabbering, gesticulating mob.  Madeline shuddered to think how a frenzy to spill blood could run through these poor revolutionists.  If it was liberty they fought for, they did not show the intelligence in their faces.  They were like wolves upon a scent.  They affronted her, shocked her.  She wondered if their officers were men of the same class.  What struck her at last and stirred pity in her was the fact that every man of the horde her swift glance roamed over, however dirty and bedraggled he was, wore upon him some ornament, some tassel or fringe or lace, some ensign, some band, bracelet, badge, or belt, some twist of scarf, something that betrayed the vanity which was the poor jewel of their souls.  It was in the race.

Suddenly the crowd parted to let the cavalry officer and a rebel of striking presence get to the car.

“Madam, it is as I suspected,” said the officer, quickly.  “The messages directing Stewart’s release never reached Salazar.  They were intercepted.  But even without them we might have secured Stewart’s exchange if it had not been for the fact that one of his captors wanted him shot.  This guerrilla intercepted the orders, and then was instrumental in taking Stewart to Mezquital.  It is exceedingly sad.  Why, he should be a free man this instant.  I regret—­”

“Who did this—­this thing?” cried Madeline, cold and sick.  “Who is the guerrilla?”

“Senor Don Carlos Martinez.  He has been a bandit, a man of influence in Sonora.  He is more of a secret agent in the affairs of the revolution than an active participator.  But he has seen guerrilla service.”

“Don Carlos!  Stewart in his power!  O God!” Madeline sank down, almost overcome.  Then two great hands, powerful, thrilling, clasped her shoulders, and Nels bent over her.

“Miss Majesty, shore we’re wastin’ time here,” he said.  His voice, like his hands, was uplifting.  She wheeled to him in trembling importunity.  How cold, bright, blue the flash of his eyes!  They told Madeline she must not weaken.  But she could not speak her thought to Nels—­could only look at Link.

“It figgers impossible, but I’ll do it!” said Link Stevens, in answer to her voiceless query.  The cold, grim, wild something about her cowboys blanched Madeline’s face, steeled her nerve, called to the depths of her for that last supreme courage of a woman.  The spirit of the moment was nature with Link and Nels; with her it must be passion.