"You
Gringos don't know how to die," he said. "Death? Pah! We must die
some time. And supposing I do know something about the senora, do
you think you can force me to speak? Torture wouldn't open my
lips."
Law did not trust himself to reply; and the horse-breaker went on
with growing defiance:
"I am innocent of any crime; therefore I am brave. But you--The
blood of innocent men means nothing to you--Panfilo's murder
proves that--so complete your work. Make an end of me."
"Be still!" Dave commanded, thickly.
But the fellow's hatred was out of bounds now, and by the
bitterness of his vituperation he seemed to invite death. Dave
interrupted his vitriolic curses to ask harshly:
"Will you tell me, or will you force me to wring the truth out of
you?"
Jose answered by spitting at his captor; then he gritted an
unspeakable epithet from between his teeth.
Dave addressed him with an air of finality. "You killed that man
and your life is forfeit, so it doesn't make much difference
whether I take it or whether the State takes it. You are brave
enough to die--most of you Mexicans are--but the State can't force
you to speak, and I can.
Pages:
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403