Dios! It was
gallantly done, like a knight of olden times--"
"Oh, no. I didn't rescue any lady, Don Andres. Just Jack--and he was
in a fair way to rescue himself, by the way. It wasn't anything much,
but I suppose the story did grow pretty big by the time it got to
you."
"And does your friend also call it a little thing?" The don turned
quizzically to Jack.
"He does not," Jack returned promptly, although his ears were
listening attentively for a nearer approach of the girl-voice he heard
within the house. "He calls it one of the big things Dade is always
doing for his friends." He dropped a hand on Dade's shoulder and
shook him with an affectionate make-believe of disfavor. "He's always
risking his valuable neck to save my worthless one, Don Andres. He
means well, but he doesn't know any better. He packed me out of a nest
of Indians once, just as foolishly; we were coming out from Texas at
the time. You'd be amazed at some of the things I could tell you about
him--"
"And about himself, if he would," drawled Dade. "If he ever tells you
about the Indian scrape, Don Andres, ask him how he happened to get
into the nest. As to yesterday, perhaps you heard how it came that
Jack got so close to the oak!"
"No--I heard merely of the danger you were in. Jose's head vaquero
was in town when the Vigilantes returned with their Captain and those
others, and there were many rumors.
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