had lost their way, of course, since Senor Yeager was
unfortunately not able to go along. So I brought them home to breakfast.
Was I not kind?"

He threw back his head and laughed. Steve said nothing. His heart was
sick. He had thrown the dice for his great chance and lost.

"First, to breakfast," repeated the Mexican. "And afterward--the young
lady shall have love. Por Dios, you shall be at the wedding," decided
Pasquale on malicious impulse, hammering on the table with his great
fist.

"If I had only had the sense to pull the trigger last night when I had
you at my mercy," Yeager commented aloud.

"Yes, you and all her friends--you shall all be there to wish her
joy--even Holcomb, who wearies me with his protests. Maldito! Is Gabriel
Pasquale not good enough for a kitchen wench from Arizona?"

"It's an outrage beyond belief."

"And afterward--while the little chatita makes love to Gabriel--her
friend Steve whom she loves will suffer his punishment with what
fortitude he can."

"And her other friends?"

"Behold, it is a great day, senor. Not so? If the chatita, linda de mi
alma (pugnosed one, pretty creature of my love), asks for their freedom,
she shall have it. I, Gabriel, will send them home under safe escort. Am
I not generous? A kind lover? Not so?"

Steve turned his head away and looked through the window at the sun
rising behind the distant hills. There was nothing to be said.

CHAPTER XXV

THE TEXAN TAKES A LONG JOURNEY

Pasquale was as good as his word. He arranged that Yeager should see the
function from first to last. The wounded man, his hands tied behind his
back, heavily guarded, was in the front row of the crowd which lined the
short walk between the headquarters of the general and the little adobe
church. The petty officer in command told him that after the bridal
procession had passed he was to be taken into the balcony of the church
for the ceremony.

"And afterward, while Gabriel makes love to the muchacha, the Gringo
Yeager will learn what it means to displease the Liberator," promised
the brown man with a twinkle of cruel little eyes.

Steve gave no sign that he heard. He understood perfectly that the
ingenuity of Pasquale would make the day one long succession of tortures
for him. It was up to him to mask his face and manner with the stoicism
of an Apache.

At a little distance he saw Farrar and Threewit, both of them very
anxious and pale. He would have called a greeti