Agueda did not look at him. She shook her head, and drooped it on her breast. A sudden flash of lightning made the place as bright as day. Uncle Adan caught a glimpse of that at the further corner which made him rage inwardly.
"I have no patience with you," said Uncle Adan. He could have shaken her, he was so angry. "Had you remained with them, as is your right, some things would not have happened."
He left her and went hurriedly toward the stables. Presently he returned. Agueda was aware of his presence only when he touched her.
"The storm will be here before long," he said. "Can you get him away without her? Anything to be rid of those northern interlopers."
"Call him away, draw him off. Tell him to come to the rancho--that I wish to see him about preparations as to their safety. Get him away on any pretext. Leave the others here with no one to--"
"It is not necessarily a flood," said the girl, with a strange, new, wicked hope springing up within her heart.
"It will be a flood," said Uncle Adan. "It is breaking even now at Point Galizza."
"Good girl! You are going, then, to tell him--"
"Call him away! I will saddle the horses. I will have the grey at the back steps in five minutes. Tell him that Don Silencio has need of him."
"If the Don Silencio's own letter would not--"
"The grey can carry double. You can ride with him. I will go ahead. The flood is coming. It is near. I know the signs."
Agueda drew away from the hand which Uncle Adan laid upon her wrist.
"The flood will last but a day or two," he whispered in her ear, "but it will be a deep one. All the signs point to that. We have never had such a one; but after--Agueda, after--there will be no one to interfere with you--with me, if--"
Agueda allowed him to push her on toward the end of the veranda, where the two were still singing in a desultory way.
"Him!" said Uncle Adan, in a tone of dictation.
"I shall warn them," again said Agueda, as if she had not spoken before.
"Fool!" shouted Uncle Adan, as he dashed down the veranda steps and ran toward the stables. "And the forest answered 'fool!'"
Agueda heard hurrying footsteps from the inner side of the veranda. Men were running toward the stables. She drew near to Beltran. The faint light of the lantern in the comidor told her where the two forms still sat, though it showed her little else. She laid her hand upon his shoulder, but she laid it also upon a smaller, softer one than her own. The hand was suddenly withdrawn, as Felisa gave an apprehensive little scream.