at they have done?"

"Fine! I'm to be mauled and starved and kidnaped, but I'm to say 'Thank
you kindly' for these small favors, hoping for a continuance of the
same. You have another guess coming, Mr. Pesquiera. I offered those
terms two days ago. They weren't accepted. My ideas have changed. I'm
going to put your friends behind the bars--unless you decide to let them
murder me instead. I've been the goat long enough."

"Your complaint is just, Mr. Gordon. It iss your right to enforce the
law. Most certainly it iss your right. But consider my position.
Sebastian brought me here only upon my pledge to secure from you a
promise not to press your rights. What shall I do? I must see that you
are released. That goes without saying. But shall I break faith with him
and let him be delivered to justice? I have given my word, remember."

Gordon looked up at him with his lean jaw set. "You couldn't give _my_
word, could you? Very well. Go away. Forget that you've seen me. I'll be
a clam so far as you are concerned. But if I get free I'm going to make
things hot for these lads that think they can play Ned with me. They're
going to the pen, every last one of them. I'm going to see this thing
out to a finish and find out if there's any law in New Mexico."

Manuel stiffened. "You put me in an awkward position, Mr. Gordon. I have
no choice but to see you are set at liberty. But my honor is involved.
These men shall not go to prison. They have made a serious mistake, but
they are not what you call criminals. You know well----"

"I know that they and their friends have shot at me, ambushed me, beaten
me, and starved me. They've been wanting to kill me ever since they got
me here--at least one of them has--but they just didn't have the guts to
do it. What is your definition of a criminal anyhow? Your friends here
fill the specifications close enough to suit me. I ain't worried about
their being too good for the company they'll join at the pen."

"You are then resolve', _Senor_?"

"That's what I am. I'm going to see they get the limit. I've not got a
thing against you, Mr. Pesquiera, and I'd like to oblige you if I could.
But I'm playing this hand myself."

The Spaniard spoke to him in a low voice. "These men are the people of
Miss Valdes. She drove all night across the mountains to get here sooner
when she found you were gone. She offered and paid a reward of one
hundred dollars to help find you. Do you not owe something to her?"