ful, his eyes riveted on the clumsy blade, the paper held out at
arm's length. "_Por le Capitan_," he muttered. "_Pronto!_"

"You son of swine!" growled Salezar. "You scum! Is this the way you
enter an officer's house? How did you pass the sentry? A score of lashes
on both your backs will teach you manners and him his duty. Give me that
message and stand aside till I call the guard!"

"_Perdon, Capitan! Perdon, perdon!_" begged the Delaware. "_Le
Gobernador_--" his hands streaked out, one gripping the sword wrist of
the captain, the other fastening inexorably on the greasy, swarthy
throat well up under the chin. As the grips clamped down the Delaware's
knee rose and smashed into the Mexican's stomach. The sword clattered
against a wall and the two men fell and rolled and thrashed across the
floor.

"Where _is_ she?" grated the Indian as he writhed and rolled, now
underneath and now uppermost. "Where _is_ she, you murdering dog?"

They smashed against the flimsy table and overturned it, candle, liquor
and all. The candle flickered out and the struggle went on in the
darkness.

"Where _is_ she, Salezar? Yore in th' hands of a _Texan_, you taker of
ears! Where _is_ she?"

Salezar was no weakling and although he had no more real courage than a
rat, like a rat he was cornered and fighting for his life; but Captain
Salezar had lived well and lazily, as his pampered body was now showing
evidence. Try as he might he could not escape those steel-like fingers
for more than a moment. With desperate strength he broke their hold time
and again as he writhed and bridged and rolled, clawed and bit; but they
clamped back again as often. His shouts for help were choked gasps and
the strength he had put forth in the beginning of the struggle was
waning.

The table was now a wreck and they rolled in and over the debris.
Salezar made use of his great spurs at every chance and his opponent's
clothing was ripped and torn to shreds wet with blood. His fingers
searched for his enemy's eyes and missed them, but left their marks on
the painted face. They rolled against one wall and then back to the
other; they slammed again at the door and back into the wreckage of the
table.

"Where _is_ she?" panted the Delaware. "Tell me, Salezar, _where is
she_?"

The captain wriggled desperately and almost gained the top, and thought
he sensed a weakened opposition. "Where she will remain!" he choked.
"Mistress of the _palacio_--until he tires--