"P'int her nose in the air, mister, when you turn her loose," he advised
solemnly. "She's loaded fur b'ar!"
"Keep your eyes open," Dade warned Bill Wilson when he turned to ride
back; and Bill nodded understandingly. Bill, for that matter, usually
did keep his eyes open, and to such purpose that nothing escaped them.
Back at the corral, Dade saw Jack waiting upon Surry in the shade of the
adobe wall until the moment came for entering the arena. Near to him,
Jose calmed his big, black horse and waited also, cold hauteur the
keynote of his whole attitude. Dade waved his hand to them, and they
followed him into the empty rectangle. From the crowd came a rustle as
of a gust of wind through tree-tops; then they were still again, watching
and waiting and listening.
Those for whom they had watched all day at last stood side by side
before them; and the picture they made must have pleased the most
exacting eye that looked down upon them.
For Jose was all black and silver, from the tasseled, silver cord upon
his embroidered sombrero to the great silver rowels of his spurs. Black
velvet jacket, black velvet breeches with silver braid glistening in
heavy, intricate pattern; black hair, black eyes--and a black frown,
withal, and for good reason, perhaps. For, thinking to win a smile from
her who had sent the glove and the message, Jose looked towards the
nearest and most comfortable seat, where Teresita sat, smiling and
resplendent, between her mother and Rosa.
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