the
first time either) suddenly turned and grabbed him with a powerful hand
before he could yell, though he was so frightened that he probably could
not utter a squeak. Another hand got him by the throat.

"Take me for a cow, did you, you bespangled Manuello?" roared the
Captain, and he waved the aforesaid Manuello about in his great grip as
though he had been a rag.

"No use killing the beggar, Captain," said the mate. "Maybe he can tell
us something." The Captain let the Mexican drop and he lay on the ground
perfectly inert.

"He won't be able to say much right away," said the Skipper.

It was now getting light, the first signs of dawn showing above the
mountains. As the darkness was drawn away, they could see their position
more clearly and there came the sounds of the morning from the direction
of the ranch houses. The barking of dogs, the crowing of roosters, and
the call of human voices.

"I guess, lads, it's about time for us to have something to eat," said
the Captain, "because we have got to do some tall climbing today and I
want to get an early start."

An expression of disgust showed itself on old Pete's face at the idea of
more walking, which the Captain was quick to note.

"How would you like to stay here, Old Bones, and look after Manuello?"
said the skipper. But Pete shook his head.

"I'll stay by the ship, Cap'n," said the old fellow stoutly.

"Durn my buttons," said the Captain, whose oaths were as mild as his
actions were vicious, "if you ain't a good old barnacle, Pete. I
wouldn't think of leaving you in such company as this," and he gave the
prostrate Mexican a shove with his foot. Manuello looked up at the
Captain with an evil eye and a muttered curse.

This roused the fury of Captain Broom and he held him off from the
ground as if he had been a rat, his jaws working ominously and a look in
his eyes that made the Mexican shrivel.

Nothing was said, not even by the Skipper, and the others watched him
fascinated as he glared at his victim, and even the iron composure of
the saturnine mate seemed to be moved partially aside. The Mexican began
to whimper and moan as his eyes shifted to avoid the terrible ones of
the Captain. He was not suffering any special violence, but a strange
tremor filled the soul of the Mexican, in the grip of the grizzled
giant.

As the greaser began to cry, the Captain gave a roar of laughter and
threw him aside upon the ground, about all the humanity he had shr