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Brevoort, silently eying Arguilla, saw through the scheme. Arguilla had determined to have both the money and the cattle. This explained his unwonted presence at the Ortez hacienda. Arguilla took a stiff drink of whiskey, wiped his mustache and turned to Brevoort. "You have heard?" he said. Brevoort knew enough Mexican to understand the question.
His high heel caught one choking Mexican in the jaw just as Brevoort jumped and swung the single-tree. Pete grabbed up his belt and gun. Brevoort had no need to strike again. "You go see if the horses are saddled. I'll watch the door," said Brevoort. Arguilla was awakened from a heavy sleep by the sound of a shot and the shrill yelp of one of his men. A soldier entered and saluted.
He said you could figure on two hundred head" Pete recalled Harper's statement "and that you would send your agent over to the Olla with the cash." Arguilla glanced at Ortez. "You have heard, señor?" Ortez nodded dejectedly. He had heard, but he dare not speak.
"No use arguin'," said Brevoort and Pete caught Brevoort's meaning as another man appeared. "Ask him if Arguilla is here," said Brevoort. And Pete knew that these were Arguilla's men, for none of the Ortez vaquero's carried bolt-action rifles. The sentry replied to Pete's question by poking him in the ribs with the muzzle of his rifle, and telling his to get down muy pronto.
"Tell him our message is for Arguilla not Ortez," suggested Brevoort. "There's something wrong here. No use startin' anything," he added hastily, as he dismounted. "Ortez is agent for Arguilla's outfit. If you get a chance, watch what they do with our horses." "We came to see El Comandante," said Pete as the sentries marched them to the house.
Mexicans was stealin' from Mexicans and sellin' to Brent cheap, 'cause he paid cash, and Brent was sellin' it to Mexicans. The fellas that stole the stuff knew better 'n to try to sell to Arguilla. All they would 'a' got would 'a' been a promise. So they sells to Brent, who bought mighty cheap, but paid real money. That worked fine.
But I don't say that Arguilla won't try to raid the Olla and get that money back, after he's got the cattle movin' south. You see the high-steppers that are backin' Arguilla ain't trustin' him with a whole lot of cash, personal. 'Course, what he loots is his. But their money is goin' for grub and ammunition. They figure if he gets enough cash, he'll quit. And they don't want him to quit.
Arguilla, who was to keep out of sight, had told Ortez to pay the amount stipulated by Brent and at the old established rate of twenty dollars a head which meant that upon receipt of the cattle Ortez would give the foreman of the Olla four thousand dollars in gold. Ortez knew that Arguilla contemplated killing Brent and his men and recovering the money.
The noble captain of Liberty had been known to use his best friends in this way. "When will the cattle arrive at the Olla?" asked Arguilla, seating himself. "To-morrow, Señor Comandante. That is the word from Sam Brent." "And you have come for the money, then?" Pete barely hesitated. "No. Brent said there ain't no hurry about that.
The American cowboys had scattered and were riding hard, and behind them faint flashes cut the dusk and answering flashes came from those who fled. The lieutenant shouted and spread his arms, signaling Arguilla to stop as he and his men swung round the mouth of the coulee below.
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