In the midst of his
incoherent protestations Mrs. Austin appeared.
"He is telling you the truth, Mr. Law," she said, quietly. "He is
one of my men."
Both Mexicans looked blank. At sight of the speaker their mouths
fell open, and Panfilo ceased his gesticulations.
Mrs. Austin went on: "He is my horse-breaker's cousin. He couldn't
have had any part in that murder in Jim Wells County, for he was
at Las Palmas when I left."
Panfilo recovered from his amazement, removed his sombrero, and
blessed his employer extravagantly; then he turned triumphantly
upon his captor. "Behold!" cried he. "There you have the truth. I
am an excellent, hard-working man and as honest as God."
"Surely you don't want him," Alaire appealed to Law. "He was
probably helping his countryman to escape--but they all do that,
you know."
"All right! If he's your man, that's enough," Dave told her. "Now
then, boys, it will soon be dark and we'll need some supper before
we start. It won't hurt Anto's horse to rest a bit, either. You
are under arrest," he added, addressing the latter. "You
understand what that means?"
"Si, senor!"
"I won't tie you unless--"
"No, senor!" Anto understood perfectly, and was grateful.
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