It would be another matter to define correctly the motives that impelled that debonair bandit to stand by her side so manfully in the face of Gallito’s wrath and reiterated prohibitions.  It might have been a conscientious wish to earn the jewels, over the possession of which he had not ceased to gloat, or it might have been an impish desire to annoy Gallito.  Again, it might have been gratitude toward Seagreave, sympathy with the Pearl, or, as easily the revolt of Jose’s volatile nature against the monotony of life in the narrow confines of his rock chamber.

But to Jose’s danger, as to the passing days, Pearl was alike oblivious, and it was not until Harry was able to sit up again for brief periods, that she became aware of times and seasons, of other persons and of the world of human interests and reactions.  She awoke to a realization of these facts with a sort of wonder.  She looked abroad over the hillsides and saw a new world.  The long-awaited spring had sped up from the valleys of mist, and at the wave of her white wand the mountains had bloomed with a delicate iridescence—­the luster on young leaves and shining blades of grass.  It was then that she also began to apprehend something of the nature of Jose’s difficulties.

“I must be more virtuous than I thought,” he explained to her one day, not without a touch of complacence, “for if the Devil were truly my friend, he would fly away with your father.  Those hawk’s eyes of his are ever on me and he orders me daily not to leave the mine.  If I could but cook for him,” he added mournfully, “he would soon see reason, for,” with customary boastfulness, “I have yet to see the man whose opinions I could not change with a single dish.  I, Crop-eared Jose, have won freedom more than once on an omelette, and have gained the sympathy and interest of those set against me, with a single sauce.  See, he even threatens me because I am true to my friends, but,” and here he adopted his most wheedling tone, “if you only would make up with him, and I could but cook him one supper, here in this cabin, and let him win two or three games at cards from me, all would be well again.”

“Ah, if I only could,” sighed Pearl, “but he wouldn’t listen to me unless I consented to leave Harry and sign with Sweeney.  You know how set he is, when he makes his mind up.  No, he won’t listen to me unless I give in about this contract.”

Jose nodded without speaking.  For once he appeared to be turning something over in his mind.  In truth, he was; he felt now that his comfort and safety very largely depended upon a reconciliation between Pearl and her father, and he was prepared to take long chances in an attempt to effect this.  Therefore he informed Gallito that from certain remarks Pearl had made from time to time, he, Jose, was convinced that her heart was greatly softened toward her father, and that for his part he was also convinced that she desired nothing more than to see Gallito again.