m glad I know, for I shall destroy you."

Nicolas cowered and shivered before the baleful glare in the larger
Mexican's eyes. But Tom took a savage grip of one of Gato's shoulders,
digging in with his pressure until he made the scoundrel wince.

"You'd better go slow with that talk, Gato," Tom warned him.
"If you don't we'll turn you over to Nicolas to do with as he
pleases."

"All right," sneered Gato, not a whit dismayed. "He would dare
to do nothing to me. He would be too afraid of the vengeance that
he well knows stalks in these hills."

"It is all too true," shuddered Nicolas.

"Come, brace up, Nicolas, and be a man," Tom urged, slapping the
servant cordially on the shoulder. "Don't be afraid of any man.
Let Gato threaten you if he wants to. Nothing has happened to
you yet, and he who is afraid is the only man that suffers. Come,
Gato, you will have to get up on your feet. We can't let you
delay us."

"I shall not stir a step," declared the fellow, grimly.

"Oh, yes, you will."

"Not if you kill me for refusing. If you wish to take me anywhere,
Gringos, you will have to carry me every step of the way."

"We won't carry you, either," Tom continued, coolly. "Gato, a
few moments ago, you had the whip-hand. Now, we're carrying the
whip. We don't want any nonsense. If you carry matters too far
you'll discover that Hazelton and I have had more or less experience
as wild animal trainers. But, first of all, your head. It must
be attended to."

Tom wiped away the blood, which was now clotting, with his own
handkerchief.

"Help me to stand him on his feet, Harry," Reade then commanded.

Between them they dragged the heavy fellow to his feet, but Gato
promptly cast himself down again.

"We'll haul you up again," Tom went on, patiently. "Don't try
that mulish trick any more, Gato, or I promise you that you'll
regret it."

No sooner had he been placed on his feet than. Gato once more
threw himself down. As soon as he went down, however, Tom jerked
him to his feet.

A roar like that of an angry bull escaped the lips of the suffering
Mexican.

"He is trying to summon his men!" cried Nicolas, snatching up
the rifle.

No sooner was Gato upright than he threw himself down once more.

Again he was roughly jerked to a standing position.

The fourth time that Gato was placed on his feet he stood, though
he was shaking with fury.

"That's a little better," Tom nodded. "Now, Nicolas, I imagi