The day’s long rides and the exciting events had wearied her.  She rested while Florence and the two men got supper.  During the meal Stillwell expressed satisfaction over the good riddance of the vaqueros, and with his usual optimism trusted he had seen the last of them.  Alfred, too, took a decidedly favorable view of the day’s proceedings.  However, it was not lost upon Madeline that Florence appeared unusually quiet and thoughtful.  Madeline wondered a little at the cause.  She remembered that Stewart had wanted to come with them, or detail a few cowboys to accompany them, but Alfred had laughed at the idea and would have none of it.

After supper Alfred monopolized the conversation by describing what he wanted to do to improve his home before he and Florence were married.

Then at an early hour they all retired.

Madeline’s deep slumbers were disturbed by a pounding upon the wall, and then by Florence’s crying out in answer to a call: 

“Get up!  Throw some clothes on and come out!”

It was Alfred’s voice.

“What’s the matter?” asked Florence, as she slipped out of bed.

“Alfred, is there anything wrong?” added Madeline, sitting up.

The room was dark as pitch, but a faint glow seemed to mark the position of the window.

“Oh, nothing much,” replied Alfred.  “Only Don Carlos’s rancho going up in smoke.”

“Fire!” cried Florence, sharply.

“You’ll think so when you see it.  Hurry out.  Majesty, old girl, now you won’t have to tear down that heap of adobe, as you threatened.  I don’t believe a wall will stand after that fire.”

“Well, I’m glad of it,” said Madeline.  “A good healthy fire will purify the atmosphere over there and save me expense.  Ugh! that haunted rancho got on my nerves!  Florence, I do believe you’ve appropriated part of my riding-habit.  Doesn’t Alfred have lights in this house?”

Florence laughingly helped Madeline to dress.  Then they hurriedly stumbled over chairs, and, passing through the dining-room, went out upon the porch.

Away to the westward, low down along the horizon, she saw leaping red flames and wind-swept columns of smoke.

Stillwell appeared greatly perturbed.

“Al, I’m lookin’ fer that ammunition to blow up,” he said.  “There was enough of it to blow the roof off the rancho.”

“Bill, surely the cowboys would get that stuff out the first thing,” replied Alfred, anxiously.

“I reckon so.  But all the same, I’m worryin’.  Mebbe there wasn’t time.  Supposin’ thet powder went off as the boys was goin’ fer it or carryin’ it out!  We’ll know soon.  If the explosion doesn’t come quick now we can figger the boys got the boxes out.”

For the next few moments there was a silence of sustained and painful suspense.  Florence gripped Madeline’s arm.  Madeline felt a fullness in her throat and a rapid beating of her heart.  Presently she was relieved with the others when Stillwell declared the danger of an explosion needed to be feared no longer.