“Will you help to hide me here, and then go away and be silent?”

“Go away and leave you here?” suggested Reade.

“Yes, senor.  It will be a great favor.”

“It would be murder,” Tom retorted.  “Man, you’re ill and you need care—­nursing.  I don’t know much about doctoring, but if you have any reason why you don’t want Don Luis to know you’re here, then I’ll do the best I can for you here.  I have a chum who’ll help me.  You have been traveling for some time?” Tom continued, his glance taking in the stranger’s well-worn shoes and trousers.

“That is true, yes,” nodded the stranger.

“You’ve been over a rough road, also,” Tom continued, “and now you’re ill.  Your pulse is a hundred and twenty, and you’re breathing thirty-two times to the minute.  You must have a good bed, be covered comfortably and have plenty of water to drink while we’re getting some medicines for you.”

“You are indeed kind, but I fear,” protested the stranger, “that you will attract attention my way, and then I shall be captured.”

Tom studied the face of the sick man keenly.

“I wish you would tell me something about yourself,” the young engineer hinted.  “It might help me to decide what it is best to do for you.”

“Senor,” begged the stranger, with a start of dread “it would be a great kindness to me if you would go away and leave me here.  Do not come back—­and forget that you have seen me.”

“It can’t be done,” replied Tom, with gentle positiveness.  “It wouldn’t be in American nature to go away and leave a fellow creature to die of helplessness when a little care and nursing ought to put that man on his feet again.  But I won’t argue with you, for I see the excitement is bringing a deeper flush into your face.  Senor, as you are a gentleman trust another gentleman to serve you loyally and not betray you.  I am going to leave you for a little while.  Will you give me your word to remain here until I return?”

“Yes,” nodded the other, weakly.

“I’ll wrap this around you,” Reade continued, taking off his own blouse and wrapping it around the thin body of the older man.  “This will help you a little if you are taken with chills.  I shall be back as soon as I can possibly come without attracting attention.  Do not be startled if you hear other footsteps than my own.  I shall bring with me a friend.  I would trust in his hands anything or all that I have in the world.  Will you trust me to serve you, senor?”

“I shall trust you,” promised the other, simply.  “In truth, my young friend, I have many reasons why I could wish to recover of this illness and be well again.”

Tom slipped away, then rose to his full height, and resumed his late appearance of lounging along without an object.  As he neared the camp he espied Nicolas, whom he had forgotten.

“Our little fellow came back, you see,” called Harry, as Tom neared the tents.  “What have you been doing?”