and I. We make it all time while we fight to
liberate my poor Mexico. When Mexico liberate we fight some more to
liberate her again. The Germans they give me much money to liberate
Mexico, and--there are other ways of getting much money when one is
riding around through rich country with soldiers liberating his poor,
bleeding country. Sabe?"

"Yep, I guess I savvy," said Billy, "an' it listens all right to me's
far's you've gone. My pal in on it?"

"Eh?"

"You make my frien' a captain, too?"

Pesita held up his hands and rolled his eyes in holy horror. Take a
gringo into his band? It was unthinkable.

"He shot," he cried. "I swear to kill all gringo. I become savior of my
country. I rid her of all Americanos."

"Nix on the captain stuff fer me, then," said Billy, firmly. "That guy's
a right one. If any big stiff thinks he can croak little ol' Bridge
while Billy Byrne's aroun' he's got anudder t'ink comin'. Why, me an'
him's just like brudders."

"You like this gringo?" asked Pesita.

"You bet," cried Billy.

Pesita thought for several minutes. In his mind was a scheme which
required the help of just such an individual as this stranger--someone
who was utterly unknown in the surrounding country and whose presence in
a town could not by any stretch of the imagination be connected in any
way with the bandit, Pesita.

"I tell you," he said. "I let your friend go. I send him under safe
escort to El Orobo Rancho. Maybe he help us there after a while. If you
stay I let him go. Otherwise I shoot you both with Miguel."

"Wot you got it in for Mig fer?" asked Billy. "He's a harmless sort o'
guy."

"He Villista. Villista with gringos run Mexico--gringos and the church.
Just like Huerta would have done it if they'd given him a chance, only
Huerta more for church than for gringos."

"Aw, let the poor boob go," urged Billy, "an' I'll come along wit you.
Why he's got a wife an' kids--you wouldn't want to leave them without no
one to look after them in this God-forsaken country!"

Pesita grinned indulgently.

"Very well, Senor Captain," he said, bowing low. "I let Miguel and your
honorable friend go. I send safe escort with them."

"Bully fer you, ol' pot!" exclaimed Billy, and Pesita smiled delightedly
in the belief that some complimentary title had been applied to him in
the language of "Granavenoo." "I'll go an' tell 'em," said Billy.

"Yes," said Pesita, "and say to them that they will start early in the
morn