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286 “That mightn't make any difference,” replied Alessandro. “They might take me, to make me tell where the horse was.”

“Oh, Alessandro,” sobbed Ramona, “what shall we do!” Then in another second, gathering her courage, she exclaimed, “Alessandro, I know what I will do. I will stay in the graveyard. No one will come there. Shall I not be safest there?”

“Holy Virgin! would my Majel stay there?” exclaimed Alessandro.

“Why not?” she said. “It is not the dead that will harm us. They would all help us if they could. I have no fear. I will wait there while you go; and if you do not come in an hour, I will come to Mr. Hartsel's after you. If there are men of the Señora's there, they will know me; they will not dare to touch me. They will know that Felipe would punish them. I will not be afraid. And if they are ordered to take Baba, they can have him; we can walk when the pony is tired.”

Her confidence was contagious. “My wood-dove has in her breast the heart of the lion,” said Alessandro, fondly. “We will do as she says. She is wise;” and he turned their horses' heads in the direction of the graveyard. It was surrounded by a low adobe wall, with one small gate of wooden paling. As they reached it, Alessandro exclaimed, “The thieves have taken the gate!”

“What could they have wanted with that?” said Ramona

“To burn,” he said doggedly, “It was wood; but it was very little. They might have left the graves safe from wild beasts and cattle!”

As they entered the enclosure, a dark figure rose from one of the graves. Ramona started.

“Fear nothing,” whispered Alessandro. “It must be one of our people. I am glad; now you will not