In the work that now went forward Jose Sanchez took a prominent
part. For once in his life he was a person of recognized
importance. Not only was he the right hand of the owner of La
Feria, but the favor of that redoubtable general, the hero of a
hundred tales, rested upon his shoulders like a mantle. Jose's
extravagant praises of the Federal commander, together with the
daily presence of the military guard, forcibly brought home to the
ranch-dwellers the fact that war was actually going on, and that
Luis Longorio was indeed a man of flesh and blood, and no myth.
This realization caused a ripple of excitement to stir the peons'
placid lives.
And yet in the midst of his satisfaction Sanchez confessed to one
trouble. He had expected to find his cousin, Panfilo, here, and
the fact that nothing whatever had been heard from him filled him
with great uneasiness. Of course he came to Alaire, who told him
of seeing Panfilo at the water-hole on the day after her husband
had discharged him; but that information gave Jose little comfort,
since it proved nothing as to his cousin's present whereabouts.
Alaire thought best not to tell him the full circumstances of that
affair.
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