He paused.

"Will you help us raise the money?" he repeated earnestly.

Constance had been inactive long enough. The appeal was romantic,
almost irresistible. Besides--no, at the outset she put out of
consideration any thought of the fascinating young soldier of
fortune himself.

The spirit of defiance of law and custom was strong upon her. That
was all.

"Yes," she replied, "I will help you."

Santos leaned over, and with a graceful gesture that she could not
resent, raised her finger tips gallantly to his lips.

"Thank you," he said with, a courtly smile. "We have already won!"

The next day Ramon introduced her to the other members of the Junta.
It was evident that he was in fact as well as name their leader, but
they were not like the usual oily plotters of revolution who
congregate about the round tables in dingy back rooms of South
Street cafes, apportioning the gold lace, the offices, and the
revenues among themselves. There was an "air" about them that was
different.

"Let me present Captain Lee Gordon of the Arrayo," remarked Santos,
coming to a stockily-built, sun-burned man with the unmistakable