What did you do then?"

"The only thing I could do," answered Baraja, with the air of a
cavalier, "was to stake my remaining half against his on a game, and let
the winner take the whole."

"Did he accept this proposal?"

"After a fashion."

"What fashion?"

"Why, you see I am too timid when I play in presence of company, and
certain to lose. I prefer, therefore, to play in the open air, and in
some quiet corner of the woods. There I feel more at my ease; and if I
should lose--considering that it was my whole fortune that was at
stake--I should not expose my chagrin to the whole world. These were
the considerations that prompted me to propose the conditions of our
playing alone."

"And did the lawyer agree to your conditions?"

"Not a bit of it."

"What a droll fellow he must have been!"

"He would only play in the presence of witnesses."

"And you were forced to his terms?"

"To my great regret, I was."

"And of course you lost--being so nervous in presence of company?"

"I lost the second half of my fortune as I had done the first. The only
thing I kept back was the horse you see, and even him my ex-intendant
insisted upon having as part of the bet. To-day I have no other hope
than to make my fortune in this Tubac expedition, and if I should do so
I may get back, and settle accounts with the knave. After that game,
however, I swore I should never play another card; and, carramba! I
have kept my oath."

"How long since this happened?"

"Five days."

"The devil!--You deserve credit for keeping your word."

The two adventurers after having exchanged these confidences, began to
talk over their hopes founded on the approaching expedition--of the
marvellous sights that they would be likely to see--but more especially
of the dangers that might have to be encountered.

"Bah!" said Baraja, speaking of these; "better to die than live wearing
a coat out at elbows."

Cuchillo was of the same opinion.

Meanwhile the sun was growing hotter and hotter. A burning wind began
to blow through the trees, and the horses of the two travellers,
suffering from thirst, uttered their plaintive neighings. The men
themselves sought out the thickest shade to protect them from the fervid
rays of the sun, and for a while both observed a complete silence.

Baraja was the first to resume the conversation.

"You may laugh at me, Senor Cuchillo," said he, fanning himself with his
felt hat, "but to say the truth th