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Rozales grinned. Already among Pesita's following of a hundred men there
were fifteen captains.
"Where is Granavenoo?" asked Rozales.
"You mean to say, my dear captain," exclaimed Pesita, "that a man of your
education does not know where Granavenoo is? I am surprised. Why, it is a
German colony."
"Yes, of course. I recall it well now. For the moment it had slipped my
mind. My grandfather who was a great traveler was there many times. I have
heard him speak of it often."
"But I did not summon you that we might discuss European geography,"
interrupted Pesita. "I sent for you to tell you that the stranger would not
consent to serve me unless I liberated his friend, the gringo, and that
sneaking spy of a Miguel. I was forced to yield, for we can use the
stranger. So I have promised, my dear captain, that I shall send them upon
their road with a safe escort in the morning, and you shall command the
guard. Upon your life respect my promise, Rozales; but if some of Villa's
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cutthroats should fall upon you, and in the battle, while you were trying
to defend the gringo and Miguel, both should be slain by the bullets of the
Villistas--ah, but it would be deplorable, Rozales, but it would not be
your fault. Who, indeed, could blame you who had fought well and risked
your men and yourself in the performance of your sacred duty? Rozales,
should such a thing occur what could I do in token of my great pleasure
other than make you a colonel?"
"I shall defend them with my life, my general," cried Rozales, bowing low.
"Good!" cried Pesita. "That is all."
Rozales started back toward the ring of smokers.
"Ah, Captain!" cried Pesita. "Another thing. Will you make it known to the
other officers that the stranger from Granavenoo is a captain and that it
is my wish that he be well treated, but not told so much as might injure
him, or his usefulness, about our sacred work of liberating poor, bleeding
unhappy Mexico."
Again Rozales bowed and departed. This time he was not recalled.
Billy found Bridge and Miguel squatting on the ground with two dirty-faced
peons standing guard over them. The latter were some little distance away.
They made no objection when Billy approached the prisoners though they had
looked in mild surprise when they saw him crossing toward them without a
guard.
Billy sat down beside Bridge, and broke into a laugh.
"What's the joke?" asked Bridge. "Are we going to be hanged instead of
being shot?"
"We ain't goin' to be either," said Billy, "an' I'm a captain. Whaddaya
know about that?"
He explained all that had taken place between himself and Pesita while
Bridge and Miguel listened attentively to his every word.
"I t'ought it was about de only way out fer us," said Billy. "We were in
worse than I t'ought."
"Can the Bowery stuff, Billy," cried Bridge, "and talk like a white man.
You can, you know."
"All right, bo," cried Billy, good-naturedly. "You see I forget when there
is anything pressing like this, to chew about. Then I fall back into the
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old lingo. Well, as I was saying, I didn't want to do it unless you would
stay too, but he wouldn't have you. He has it in for all gringos, and that
bull you passed him about me being from a foreign country called Grand
Avenue! He fell for it like a rube for the tapped-wire stuff. He said if I
wouldn't stay and help him he'd croak the bunch of us."
"How about that ace-in-the-hole, you were telling me about?" asked Bridge.
"I still got it," and Billy fondled something hard that swung under his
left arm beneath his shirt; "but, Lord, man! what could I do against the
whole bunch? I might get a few of them; but they'd get us all in the end.
This other way is better, though I hate to have to split with you, old
man."
He was silent then for a moment, looking hard at the ground. Bridge
whistled, and cleared his throat.
"I've always wanted to spend a year in Rio," he said. "We'll meet there,
when you can make your get-away."
"You've said it," agreed Byrne. "It's Rio as soon as we can make it.
Pesita's promised to set you both loose in the morning and send you under
safe escort--Miguel to his happy home, and you to El Orobo Rancho. I guess
the old stiff isn't so bad after all."
Miguel had pricked up his ears at the sound of the word ESCORT. He leaned
far forward, closer to the two Americans, and whispered.
"Who is to command the escort?" he asked.
"I dunno," said Billy. "What difference does it make?"
"It makes all the difference between life and death for your friend and for
me," said Miguel. "There is no reason why I should need an escort. I know
my way throughout all Chihuahua as well as Pesita or any of his cutthroats.
I have come and gone all my life without an escort. Of course your friend
is different. It might be well for him to have company to El Orobo. Maybe
it is all right; but wait until we learn who commands the escort. I know
Pesita well. I know his methods. If Rozales rides out with us tomorrow
morning you may say good-bye to your friend forever, for you will never see
him in Rio, or elsewhere. He and I will be dead before ten o'clock."
"What makes you think that, bo?" demanded Billy.
"I do not think, senor," replied Miguel; "I know."
"Well," said Billy, "we'll wait and see."
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"If it is Rozales, say nothing," said Miguel. "It will do no good; but we
may then be on the watch, and if possible you might find the means to
obtain a couple of revolvers for us. In which case--" he shrugged and
permitted a faint smile to flex his lips.
As they talked a soldier came and announced that they were no longer
prisoners--they were to have the freedom of the camp; "but," he concluded,
"the general requests that you do not pass beyond the limits of the camp.
There are many desperadoes in the hills and he fears for your safety, now
that you are his guests."
The man spoke Spanish, so that it was necessary that Bridge interpret his
words for the benefit of Billy, who had understood only part of what he
said.
"Ask him," said Byrne, "if that stuff goes for me, too."
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