Many of the guerrillas leaped up with drawn weapons.  Still Stewart approached with his hands high, and he rode right into the camp-fire circle.  Then a guerrilla, evidently the chief, waved down the threatening men and strode up to Stewart.  He greeted him.  There was amaze and pleasure and respect in the greeting.  Madeline could tell that, though she did not know what was said.  At the moment Stewart appeared to her as cool and careless as if he were dismounting at her porch steps.  But when he got down she saw that his face was white.  He shook hands with the guerrilla, and then his glittering eyes roved over the men and around the glade until they rested upon Madeline.  Without moving from his tracks he seemed to leap, as if a powerful current had shocked him.  Madeline tried to smile to assure him she was alive and well; but the intent in his eyes, the power of his controlled spirit telling her of her peril and his, froze the smile on her lips.

With that he faced the chief and spoke rapidly in the Mexican jargon Madeline had always found so difficult to translate.  The chief answered, spreading wide his hands, one of which indicated Madeline as she lay there.  Stewart drew the fellow a little aside and said something for his ear alone.  The chief’s hands swept up in a gesture of surprise and acquiescence.  Again Stewart spoke swiftly.  His hearer then turned to address the band.  Madeline caught the words “Don Carlos” and “pesos.”  There was a brief muttering protest which the chief thundered down.  Madeline guessed her release had been given by this guerrilla and bought from the others of the band.

Stewart strode to her side, leading the roan.  Majesty reared and snorted when he saw his mistress prostrate.  Stewart knelt, still holding the bridle.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I think so,” she replied, essaying a laugh that was rather a failure.  “My feet are tied.”

Dark blood blotted out all the white from his face, and lightning shot from his eyes.  She felt his hands, like steel tongs, loosening the bonds round her ankles.  Without a word he lifted her upright and then upon Majesty.  Madeline reeled a little in the saddle, held hard to the pommel with one hand, and tried to lean on Stewart’s shoulder with the other.

“Don’t give up,” he said.

She saw him gaze furtively into the forest on all sides.  And it surprised her to see the guerrillas riding away.  Putting the two facts together, Madeline formed an idea that neither Stewart nor the others desired to meet with some one evidently due shortly in the glade.  Stewart guided the roan off to the right and walked beside Madeline, steadying her in the saddle.  At first Madeline was so weak and dizzy that she could scarcely retain her seat.  The dizziness left her presently, and then she made an effort to ride without help.  Her weakness, however, and a pain in her wrenched arm made the task laborsome.