To speak praises to the face of a friend is not my habit,
yet I will say that I would teach my people to respect good men,
whatever the race; and especially Americanos, who will be our
neighbors henceforth. I shall be greatly pleased when you tell me
that you will be my majordomo; more than ever one needs a man of
intelligence and tact--"
"And are none of our own people tactful or intelligent, Don Andres
Picardo?" demanded Manuel, having overheard the last sentence or two
from the doorway. He came out and stood before his beloved "patron,"
his whole fat body quivering with amazed indignation, so that the
bottle which the senora had filled for him shook in his hand. "Amongst
the gringos must you go to find one worthy? Truly it is as Don Jose
tells me; these gringos have come but to make trouble where all was
peace. To-day he told me all his thoughts, and me, I hardly believed
it was as he said. Would the patron have a majordomo who knows nothing
of rodeos, nothing of the cattle--"
"You're mistaken there, Manuel," Dade broke in calmly. "Whether I
become majordomo or not, I know cattle. They have a few in Texas,
where I came from. I can qualify in cowology any time. And," he added
loyally, "so can Jack. You thought he didn't know what he was talking
about, when he was looking at that riata; but I'll back him against
any man in California when it comes to riding and roping.
"But that needn't make us bad friends, Manuel.
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