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"I can't quite make that gink out," he mused. "Either he's a mighty good loser or else he's a deep one who'll wait a year to get me the way he wants to get me." And Pesita a few moments later was saying to Captain Rozales: "I should have shot him if I could spare such a man; but it is seldom I find one with the courage and effrontery he possesses.
When he had asked the question Billy had been looking straight at Rozales, and he had seen the man's pupils contract and noticed the slight backward movement of the body which also denotes determination. Billy knew, therefore, that Rozales was lying. He did know who was to command the escort, and there was something sinister in that knowledge or the fellow would not have denied it.
The soldier shuffled away to where a little circle of men in wide-brimmed, metal-encrusted hats squatted in the shade of a tree, chatting, laughing, and rolling cigarettes. He saluted one of these and delivered his message, whereupon the tall, gaunt Captain Rozales arose and came over to Pesita.
It seems to be the right dope down here, an' I got to learn all I can about bein' a greaser seein' that I've turned one." "Good-bye Billy, remember Rio," said Bridge. "And the revolvers, senor," added Miguel. "You bet," replied Billy, and strolled off in the direction of the little circle of cigarette smokers. As he approached them Rozales looked up and smiled. Then, rising, extended his hand.
Billy was for moving on at once before the reinforcements, for which he was sure Rozales had dispatched his messenger, could overtake them. But the others were tired and argued, too, that upon jaded ponies they could not hope to escape and so they waited, until, just as they were ready to continue their flight, flight became impossible.
"Senor Captain," he said, "we welcome you. I am Captain Rozales." He hesitated waiting for Billy to give his name. "My monacker's Byrne," said Billy. "Pleased to meet you, Cap." "Ah, Captain Byrne," and Rozales proceeded to introduce the newcomer to his fellow-officers.
At a point where a ravine down which they had ridden debauched upon a mesa Rozales suggested that they ride to the north, which was not at all the direction in which Bridge intended going. The American demurred. "But there is no shooting down in the valley," urged Rozales.
Upon your life respect my promise, Rozales; but if some of Villa's cutthroats should fall upon you, and in the battle, while you were trying to defend the gringo and Miguel, both should be slain by the bullets of the Villistas ah, but it would be deplorable, Rozales, but it would not be your fault.
"I don't doubt it," thought Bridge; "probably in the back;" but aloud he said: "Certainly, that will be fine," for he guessed that Rozales had been set to watch his movements and prevent his escape, and, perchance, to be the sole witness of some unhappy event which should carry Senor Bridge to the arms of his fathers.
Several, like Rozales, were educated men who had been officers in the army under former regimes, but had turned bandit as the safer alternative to suffering immediate death at the hands of the faction then in power. The others, for the most part, were pure-blooded Indians whose adult lives had been spent in outlawry and brigandage. All were small of stature beside the giant, Byrne.
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