by Bret Harte
the grating. Don Jose surveyed him with mildsurprise and dignified composure. The man appeared perfectlysober,--it was a peculiarity of his dissipated habits that, when notactually raving with drink, he was singularly shrewd and practical.
"Look yer, Don Kosay," he began in a brusque but guarded voice, "youand me is pards. When ye picked me and the mare up and set us on ourlegs again in this yer ranch, I allowed I'd tie to ye whenever you wasin trouble--and wanted me. And I reckon that's what's the matter now.For from what I see and hear on every side, although you're the boss ofthis consarn, you're surrounded by a gang of spies and traitors. Yourcomings and goings, your ins and outs, is dogged and followed and blownupon. The folks you trust is playing it on ye. It ain't for me to saywhy or wherefore--what's their rights and what's yourn--but I've cometo tell ye that if you don't get up and get outer this ranch them d--dpriests and your own flesh and blood--your aunts and your uncles andyour cousins, will have you chucked outer your property, and run into alunatic asylum."
"Me--Don Jose Sepulvida--a lunatico! You are yourself crazy of drink,friend Roberto."
"Yes," said Roberto grimly, "but that kind ain't ILLEGAL, while yourmakin' ducks and drakes of your property and going into 'Merikin ideasand 'Merikin speculations they reckon is. And speakin' on the square,it ain't NAT'RAL."
Don Jose sprang to his feet and began to pace up and down his cell-likestudy. "Ah, I remember now," he muttered, "I begin to comprehend:Father Felipe's homilies and discourses! My aunt's too affectionatecare! My cousin's discreet consideration! The prompt attention of myservants! I see it all! And you," he said, suddenly facing Roberto,"why come you to tell me this?"
"Well, boss," said the American dryly, "I reckoned to stand by you."
"Ah," said Don Jose, visibly affected. "Good Roberto, come hither,child, you may kiss my hand."
"If! it's all the same to you, Don Kosay,--THAT kin slide."
"Ah, if--yes," said Don Jose, meditatively putting his hand to hisforehead, "miserable that I am!--I remembered not you were Americano.Pardon, my friend--embrace me--Conpanero y Amigo."
With characteristic gravity he reclined for a moment upon Robert'sastonished breast. Then recovering himself with equal gravity hepaused, lifted his hand with gentle warning, marched to a recess in thecorner, unhooked a rapier hanging from the wall, and turned to hiscompanion.
"We will defend ourselves, friend Roberto. It is the sword of theComandante--my ancestor. The blade is of Toledo."
"An ordinary six-shooter of Colt's would lay over that," said Robertogrimly--"but that ain't your game just now, Don Kosay. You must get upand get, and at once. You must vamose the ranch afore they lay hold ofyou and have you up before the alcalde. Once away from here, theydaren't follow you where there's 'Merikin law, and when you kin fight'em in the square."
"Good," said Don Jose with melancholy preciseness. "You are wise,friend Roberto. We may fight them later, as you say--on the square, orin the open Plaza. And you, camarado, YOU shall go with me--you andyour mare."
Sincere as the American had been in his offer of service, he wassomewhat staggered at this imperative command. But only for a moment."Well," he said lazily, "I don't care if I do."
"But," said Don Jose with increased gravity, "you SHALL care, friendRoberto. We shall make an alliance, an union. It is true, my brother,you drink of whiskey, and at such times are even as a madman. It hasbeen recounted to me that it was necessary to your existence that youare a lunatic three days of the week. Who knows? I myself, though Idrink not of aguardiente, am accused of fantasies for all time.Necessary it becomes therefore that we should go TOGETHER. Myfantasies and speculations cannot injure you, my brother; your whiskeyshall not empoison me. We shall go together in the great world of yourAmerican ideas of which I am much inflamed. We shall together breatheas one the spirit of Progress and Liberty. We shall be even asneophytes making of ourselves Apostles of Truth. I absolve andrenounce myself henceforth of my family. I shall take to myself thesister and the brother, the aunt and the uncle, as we proceed. Idevote myself to humanity alone. I devote YOU, my friend, and themare--though happily she has not a Christian soul--to this gloriousmission."
The few level last rays of light lit up a faint enthusiasm in the faceof Don Jose, but without altering his imperturbable gravity. Thevaquero eyed him curiously and half doubtfully.
"We will go to-morrow," resumed Don Jose with solemn decision, "for itis Wednesday. It was a Sunday that thou didst ride the mare up thesteps of the Fonda and demanded that thy liquor should be served tothee in a pail. I remember it, for the landlord of the Fonda claimedtwenty pesos for damage and the kissing of his wife. Therefore, bycomputation, good Roberto, thou shouldst be sober until Friday, and weshall have two clear days to fly before thy madness again seizes thee."
"They kin say what they like, Don Kosay, but YOUR head is level,"returned the unabashed American, grasping Don Jose's hand. "All right,then. Hasta manana, as your folks say."
"Hasta manana," repeated Don Jose gravely.
At daybreak next morning, while slumber still weighted the lazy eyelidsof "the Blessed Innocents," Don Jose Sepulvida and his trusty squireRoberto, otherwise known as "Bucking Bob," rode forth unnoticed fromthe corral.
II.
Three days had passed. At the close of the third, Don Jose was seatedin a cosy private apartment of the San Mateo Hotel, where they hadhalted for an arranged interview with his lawyer before reaching SanFrancisco. From his window he could see the surrounding park-likeavenues of oaks and the level white high road, now and then cloudedwith the dust of passing teams. But his eyes were persistently fixedupon a small copy of the American Constitution before him. Suddenlythere was a quick rap on his door, and before he could reply to it aman brusquely entered.
Don Jose raised his head slowly, and recognized the landlord. But theintruder, apparently awed by the gentle, grave, and studious figurebefore him, fell back for an instant in an attitude of surly apology.
"Enter freely, my good Jenkinson," said Don Jose, with a quiet courtesythat had all the effect of irony. "The apartment, such as it is, is atyour disposition. It is even yours, as is the house."
"Well, I'm darned if I know as it is," said the landlord, recoveringhimself roughly, "and that's jest what's the matter. Yer's that man ofyours smashing things right and left in the bar-room and chuckin' mywaiters through the window."
"Softly, softly, good Jenkinson," said Don Jose, putting a mark in thepages of the volume before him. "It is necessary first that I shouldcorrect your speech. He is not my 'MAN,' which I comprehend to mean aslave, a hireling, a thing obnoxious to the great American nation whichI admire and to which HE belongs. Therefore, good Jenkinson, say'friend,' 'companion,' 'guide,' philosopher,' if you will. As to therest, it is of no doubt as you relate. I myself have heard thebreakings of glass and small dishes as I sit here; three times I haveseen your waiters projected into the road with much violence andconfusion. To myself I have then said, even as I say to you, goodJenkinson, 'Patience, patience, the end is not far.' In four hours,"continued Don Jose, holding up four fingers, "he shall make a finish.Until then, not."
"Well, I'm d--d," ejaculated Jenkinson, gasping for breath in hisindignation.
"Nay, excellent Jenkinson, not dam-ned but of a possibility dam-AGED.That I shall repay when he have make a finish."
"But, darn it all," broke in the landlord angrily.
"Ah," said Don Jose gravely, "you would be paid before! Good; for howmuch shall you value ALL you have in your bar?"
Don Jose's imperturbability evidently shook the landlord's faith in thesoundness of his own position. He looked at his guest critically andaudaciously.
"It cost me two hundred dollars to fit it up," he said curtly.
Don Jose rose, and, taking a buckskin purse from his saddle-bag,counted out four slugs[1] and handed them to the stupefied Jenkinson.The next moment, however, his host recovered himself, and casting theslugs back on the little
table, brought his fist down with an emphasisthat made them dance.
"But, look yer--suppose I want this thing stopped--you hearme--STOPPED--now."
"That would be interfering with the liberty of the subject, my goodJenkinson--which God forbid!" said Don Jose calmly. "Moreover, it isthe custom of the Americanos--a habit of my friend Roberto--a necessityof his existence--and so recognized of his friends. Patience andcourage, Senor Jenkinson. Stay--ah, I