ll you that I actually stole him; but just the
same, if a good man like you would take him, after I'm gone--why, I'd
feel that he was washed off pretty well."

The Mexican's sympathy grew more keen.

"But the other sins," Driscoll added, "they'll need water, and a great
plenty, too."

Juan Bautista was feeling the buckskin's knees. Driscoll longed to choke
him, but instead, he drove again at the wedge. "Another thing, I'll have
to leave my money behind." He mentioned it casually, but his breath
stopped while he waited for the effect. The guard straightened.
Demijohn's knees seemed to be all right. He took up the tray, and opened
the door, yet without a word. Driscoll's fist doubled, to strike and run
for it. Then the fellow spoke.

"Does Y'r Mercy want soap too?"

The fist unclenched. "No," came the reply, almost in a joyful gasp,
"this is for, for godliness only."

"One jar, senor?"

"Bless me, no! Two big ones, bigger'n a barrel."

With a parting glance at Demijohn, the guard stole forth to gratify the
heathen's whim.

"I'll give him enough to _buy_ a horse," Driscoll resolved.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE SHOT

"A horse and a man
Is more than one,
And yet not many."
--_Taming of the Shrew_.

"Now Berthe--why, what in the world----" Jacqueline began.

It was her second morning to awake in the hacienda house, and the little
Bretonne tripped into her room under a starchy mountain heaped high.
"Clothes, madame," she replied.

"He mais----"

"They were made yesterday by some of the ranchero women. Madame will
look?"

"Calico! Grands dieux!"

There were two dresses, one for each girl. The native seamstresses had
slyly taken stock of mademoiselle the day before, only to discover that
a "simple" frock from Paris was a formidable thing to duplicate. The
marchioness smiled, and the maid also.

"But, for example, Berthe, who inspired this?"

"He did."

"He?"

"The American monsieur, of course."

"Oh, the American monsieur, of course! So, monsieur permits himself to
observe that I need a wardrobe? But you, Berthe, you surely did not----"

"Oh, no, madame! I knew nothing, till just now, when the woman brought
them. The monsieur ordered them yesterday, she said. And naturally,
madame, if he could have found better material, I do not doubt----"

"There, child, I'll not be reproached by your even thinking it necessary
to defend----"

"And madame will s