"I had to take the two together," Dade explained, trying with better
success to speak lightly. "And now, if I turn the buckskin loose, he
may go back--and he may not. I was wondering--"
Manuel cut him short. "To-morrow I ride to town," he said. "I will
take the caballo back with me, if that pleases the senors. I will turn
him loose near the Mission, and he will go to his stable.
"The senor," he added, "was very brave. _Madre de Dios!_ To run away
with a prisoner of the Vigilantes! But they will surely kill the senor
for that; the taking of the horse, that is nothing." His teeth shone
briefly under his black mustache. "One can die but once," he pointed
out, and emphasized his meaning by a swift glance at Jack, moodily
nibbling the edge of a corn cake. "But if the horse does not please
the senor--"
Dade caught his meaning and laughed a little over it. "The horse," he
said, "belongs to the Committee; my friend does not."
"Si, Senor--but surely that is true. Only--" he stroked his crisp
beard thoughtfully--"the senors would better go to-morrow to the
patron. There the gringos dare not come. In this poor hut the senors
may not be safe--for we are but three poor vaqueros when all are here.
We will do our best--"
"Three vaqueros," declared Dade with fine diplomacy, "as brave as the
three who live here, would equal twenty of the Committee. But we will
not let it come to that.
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