. He leaned forward, body tense and rigid. His prisoner
understood that an offer for his life was being made him. But what kind
of an offer? Just what was he to do?

"Say it right out in plain United States talk, general. What is it you
want me to do?"

"Would you kill Ramon Culvera--to save your own life?"

After barely an instant's hesitation Steve answered. "Yep. I'll fight
him to a finish--any time, any place."

"Bueno! But there will be no risk for you. He will be summoned from his
house to-night. You will stand in the darkness outside. One thrust of
the knife and--you will be avenged. A saddled horse is waiting for you
now in the cottonwood grove opposite. Before we get the pursuit started
you will be lost in the darkness miles away."

The heart of Yeager sank. The thing he was being asked to do was plain
murder. Even to save his own life he could not set his hand to such a
contract.

"I can't do that, general. But I'll pick a quarrel with him. I'll take a
chance on even terms."

"No--no!" Pasquale's voice was harsh and imperative. "The dog is
plotting my murder. But first he wants to make sure he is strong enough
to succeed me. So he waits. But I--Gabriel Pasquale--I wait for no
man's knife. I strike first--and sure. You execute the traitor and save
your own life which is forfeit. Caramba! Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid, but--"

"You walk out of that door a free man. You give the password for
to-night. It is 'Gabriel.' You settle with the traitor and then ride
away to safety. Maldito! Why hesitate?"

"Because I'm a white man, general. We don't kill in the dark and run
away. When I offer to fight him to a finish I go the limit--and then
some. For I don't hate Culvera that bad. But I think a heap of Steve
Yeager's life, so I'll stand pat on my proposition."

"Am I a fool, senor?" asked the Mexican harshly. "How do I know you
would keep faith, that you would not ride away--what you call laugh in
your sleeve at me? No! You will strike under my own eye--with my
revolver at your heart. Then I make sure."

"I'll bet you'd make sure. You'd shoot me down and explain it all fine
when your men came running. 'The Gringo dog escaped and killed my dear
friend Ramon, but by good luck I shot him before he made his getaway.'
Nothing doing."

"Then you refuse?" Pasquale's narrowed eyes glittered in the moonshine.

"You're right I do."

The Mexican rose. "Die like a dog, then, you pigheaded Gringo."

"Just a mom