"Truly, Jose will be disappointed when he does not see Senor Jack
amongst us," smiled Valencia, reining in beside Dade and looking after
the departing horseman with friendly eyes. "Though if he had good sense,
he would be thankful. Me, I should not like to have trouble with that
friend of yours, Senor. In San Francisco they talk yet of that day when
he fired three times from a galloping horse and killed three men. Dios!
That was pretty shooting. I would have given much to see it. There will
be few men so bold now as to make war with that blue-eyed hombre; but
Jose is a fool, when his will is crossed. Me, I fight--yes, and love the
heat of fighting in my blood; but I do not bellow threats before, as
Jose has been doing. Carramba! To hear him, one would think he believed
that men may die of curses; if they did, the Senor Jack would be lying
now with candles burning at his head and his feet! Truly, love takes the
sense out of a man quicker than wine."
Dade agreed with him, though his lips did not open to form any words
upon the subject.
Their first stopping place was Jose's ranch down near Santa Clara, and
he wondered just how far Jose's hatred of him would interfere with the
traditions of hospitality. It was not likely that Jose's vaqueros would
be ready to start that day; and although he carried his own camp
equipment on pack-horses, and, guided by Valencia, ordered the camp set
up in its accustomed place beside a little stream half a mile from the
house, he sent many a questioning glance that way.
Pages:
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169