FOR Adam's questions Margarita had a shy, "Si, señor," and the same subtle smile thathad attracted him. Whereupon he took up his pack and followed her.Back from the river the sand was thick and heavy, clean and white. The girl led down a pathbordered by willows and mesquites which opened into a clearing where stood several squat adobehouses.Margarita stopped at the first house. The girl's mother appeared to be an indolent person, rathercareless of her attire. She greeted Adam in English, but when he exercised some of his laborsomeSpanish her dark face beamed with smiles that made it pleasant to behold. The little room indoors, to which she led Adam, was dark, poorly ventilated, and altogether unsatisfactory. Adam said so.The señora waxed eloquent. Margarita managed to convey her great disappointment by one swiftlook. Then they led him outdoors and round under the low-branching mesquites, where he had tostoop, to a small structure. The walls were made of two rows of long slender poles, nailed uponheavier uprights at the corners, and between these rows had been poured wet adobe mud. The hutcontained two rooms, the closed one full of wood and rubbish, and the other, which had an openfront, like a porch, faced the river. It was empty, with a floor of white sand. This appeared verymuch to Adam's liking, and he agreed upon a price for it, to the señora's satisfaction and Margarita'sshy rapture. Adam saw the latter with some misgiving, yet he was pleased, and in spite of himself hewarmed toward this pretty señorita who had apparently taken a sudden fancy to him. He was astranger in a strange land, with a sore and yearning heart. While Adam untied his pack and spreadout its contents the women fetched a low bench, a bucket of water, and a basin. These simplearticles constituted the furniture of his new lodgings. He was to get his meals at the house, where, itwas assured, he would be well cared for. In moving away, Margarita, who was looking back, caughther hair in a thorny branch of the mesquite. Adam was quick to spring to her assistance. Then sheran off after her mother.