anner was serious as though seeking
information.

Again the Mexican shook his head.

"He sure don't," said Pete, turning to Brevoort--"or he'd 'a' jest
nacherally plugged me. If a Chola don't know what whiskey or dam' fool
means, he don't know American."

Meanwhile the two guards had turned to the natural expedient of
gambling for Pete's belt and gun. The elaborately carved holster had
taken their fancy. Pete and his companion watched them for a while.

Presently Pete attracted Brevoort's attention by moving a finger.
"Hear anything?" he whispered.

"I hear 'em eatin'," said Brevoort. He was afraid to use the word
"horses."

Pete nodded. "Speakin' of eatin'--you hungry, Ed?"

"Plumb empty. But I didn't know it till you asked me."

"Well, I been feelin' round in the hay--and right in my corner is a
nest full of eggs. There's so doggone many I figure that some of 'em
is gettin' kind of ripe. Did you ever git hit in the eye with a ripe
egg?"

"Not that I recollect'."

"Well, you would--if you had. Now I don't know what that swelled up
gent in there figures on doin' with us. And I don't aim to hang around
to find out. These here Cholas is gamblin' for our hosses, right now.
It kind of looks to me like if we stayed round here much longer we
ain't goin' to need any hosses or anything else. I worked for a
Mexican onct--and I sabe 'em. You got to kind of feel what they mean,
and never mind what they are sayin'. Now I got a hunch that we don't
get back to the Olla, never--'less we start right now."

"But how in--"

"Wait a minute. I'm goin' to dig round like I was goin' to take a
sleep--and find these here eggs. Then I'm goin' to count 'em nacheral,
and pile 'em handy to you. Then we rig up a deal like we was gamblin'
for 'em, to kind of pass the time. If that don't git them two coyotes
interested, why, nothin' will. Next to gamblin' a Chola likes to
_watch_ gamblin' better 'n 'most anything. When you git to win all my
eggs, I make a holler like I'm mad. You been cheatin'. And if them
two Cholas ain't settin' with their mouths open and lookin' at us, why,
I don't know Cholas. They're listenin' right now--but they don't sabe.
Go ahead and talk like you was askin' me somethin'."

"What's your game after we start beefin' about the eggs?"

"You pick up a couple--and I pick up a couple. First you want to move
round so you kin swing your arm. When I call you a doggone bald-face
short-horn, j