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This from one who is a mere Gringo the most cowardly race of people on the earth. Oh, I shall exact revenge for this insolence. And you, Nicolas, had the impudence to come here with such an insult." "I assure you, Senor Gato, I was but the unfortunate messenger." Nicolas replied, meekly. "Since you brought this insolence to me you shall take back my message.
Nicolas cowered and shivered before the baleful glare in the larger Mexican's eyes. But Tom took a savage grip of one of Gato's shoulders, digging in with his pressure until he made the scoundrel wince. "You'd better go slow with that talk, Gato," Tom warned him. "If you don't we'll turn you over to Nicolas to do with as he pleases." "All right," sneered Gato, not a whit dismayed.
For a brief instant Tom Reade hesitated. He was doing some lightning calculating as to whether he would be able to spring forward under the rifle barrel and knock up the weapon. But a second glance showed him that he could not hope to do it. Pedro Gato was completely master of the situation. "For the third time and the last, caballeros your hands! Up high!" commanded Gato exultantly.
"And what if I had so intended?" asked the Mexican mine owner, with one of his puzzling smiles. "Just this," Harry answered, candidly. "Mr. Reade never gets into a fight if he can help it. When he does find himself in one I have learned, from long experience, not to interfere unless he calls for help. So I did not want any one to interfere between him and Gato."
Make a move as though to draw a pistol, and Gato may run away instead of sighting his rifle once more at you." "Now I know you, Gato, for the wolfish coward that you are," Tom Reade shouted mockingly. "You are desperately afraid when you won't meet me, unarmed as I am."
"Quick, caballeros!" implored Nicolas again. "You fine chap," chuckled Reade, bounding back and bending over Gato, as Nicolas was doing. "There was no other way to save you," whispered the servant. "I had to do it." As Nicolas raised his right hand, Reade could not help seeing that it was stained with blood. "See here," gasped Tom, recoiling. "You didn't you didn't knife the scoundrel?"
"But don't encounter Gato. It would be as much as your life is worth." "Why? Is Gato on the warpath for us?" Tom questioned. "I fear so," Nicolas answered. "Don't let him see you." "But I must see him, if the fellow is out for us," muttered Tom. "Show me where he is." "He and three or four men are camped just around there," said the Mexican servant, pointing. "Come along, Harry," Tom whispered.
"Cut out the thrills and the mock-comedy, Gato, and tell us what else you want us to do," Tom urged, stiffly. "Oho! My Gringo wild-cat is much tamer, isn't he?" sneered Gato. "But he shall be tamer still before the night is over. Now are you listening?" Harry made no sign, but Tom shrugged his shoulders. "Keep your noses pointed the same way. March!" commanded Gato.
Nothing has happened to you yet, and he who is afraid is the only man that suffers. Come, Gato, you will have to get up on your feet. We can't let you delay us." "I shall not stir a step," declared the fellow, grimly. "Oh, yes, you will." "Not if you kill me for refusing. If you wish to take me anywhere, Gringos, you will have to carry me every step of the way."
"Oblige me, senores, by showing me how high you can reach in the air!" came a mocking voice. Tom and Harry had both stepped around into the plain range of vision of Pedro Gato. That scoundrel stood with rifle butt to his shoulder, his glance running along the barrel. The weapon covered them. "Don't forget! Your hands, caballeros!" insisted Gato, jubilantly.
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