``Why are they so good to me?'' she moaned.``Why are you so good to me? I am a wicked, vain woman, I have brought a nation to war and I have killed the only man I ever trusted.''
Hope touched her gently with her hand and felt guiltily how selfish she herself must be not to feel the woman's grief, but she could not.She only saw in it a contrast to her own happiness, a black background before which the figure of Clay and his solicitude for her shone out, the only fact in the world that was of value.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the carriage coming to a halt, and a significant movement upon the part of the men.MacWilliams had descended from the box-seat and stepping into the carriage took the place the women had just left.
He had a carbine in his hand, and after he was seated Langham handed him another which he laid across his knees.
``They thought I was too conspicuous on the box to do any good there,'' he explained in a confidential whisper.``In case there is any firing now, you ladies want to get down on your knees here at my feet, and hide your heads in the cushions.We are entering Los Bocos.''
Langham and Clay were riding far in advance, scouting to the right and left, and the carriage moved noiselessly behind them through the empty streets.There was no light in any of the windows, and not even a dog barked, or a cock crowed.The women sat erect, listening for the first signal of an attack, each holding the other's hand and looking at MacWilliams, who sat with his thumb on the trigger of his carbine, glancing to the right and left and breathing quickly.His eyes twinkled, like those of a little fox terrier.The men dropped back, and drew up on a level with the carriage.
``We are all right, so far,'' Clay whispered.``The beach slopes down from the other side of that line of trees.What is the matter with you?'' he demanded, suddenly, looking up at the driver, ``are you afraid?''
``No,'' the man answered, hurriedly, his voice shaking; ``it's the cold.''
Langham had galloped on ahead and as he passed through the trees and came out upon the beach, he saw a broad stretch of moonlit water and the lights from the yacht shining from a point a quarter of a mile off shore.Among the rocks on the edge of the beach was the ``Vesta's'' longboat and her crew seated in it or standing about on the beach.The carriage had stopped under the protecting shadow of the trees, and he raced back toward it.