fool. You may tell the big senor that the
land is mine, but that I do not desire to use harsh methods, nor have
ill-feeling between us. It is my wish to live in harmony with all
men; my choice of a majordomo should bear witness that I look upon
Americanos with a friendly eye. I think the big hombre is honest and
intelligent; his face rather pleases me. So you may tell him that Jose
shall not trouble him again, and that I shall not dispute with him
about his remaining here, if to remain should be his purpose when he
knows the land belongs to me. But I shall look upon him as a guest. As
a guest, he will be welcome until such time as he may find some free
land upon which to build his casa."

Because the speech was kindly and just, and because he was in the
service of the don, Dade translated as nearly verbatim as the two
languages would permit. And Jerry Simpson, while he listened, gave
several hard pulls with his lips upon the short stem of his pipe,
discovered that there was no fire there, straightened his long leg
and felt gropingly for a match in the depth of a great pocket in his
trousers. His eyes, of that indeterminate color which may be either
gray, hazel, or green, as the light and his mood may affect them,
measured the don calmly, dispassionately, unawed; measured also Dade
and the beautiful white horse he rode; and finally went twinkling
over Jack and the girl, standing a little apart, wholly absorbed in
trivialities that could interest no one save themselves.

"How much land does he say belongs to him? And whar did he git his
title to it?" Jerry Simpson asked, when Dade was waiting for his
answer.

Out of his own knowledge Dade told him.

Jerry Simpson brought two matches from his pocket, inspected them
gravely and returned one carefully; lighted the other with the same
care, applied the flame to his tobacco, made sure that the pipe was
going to "draw" well, blew out the match, and tucked the stub down out
of sight in a crease in the bark of the log upon which he was sitting.
After that he rested his elbows upon his great, bony knees and smoked
meditatively.

CHAPTER X

THE FINEST LITTLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD

"You tell Mr. Picardy that I ain't visitin' nobody, so he needn't
consider that I'm company," announced Jerry, after a wait that was
beginning to rasp the nerves of his visitors. "I come here to live!
He's called this land hisn, by authority uh the king uh Spain, you
say, for over twenty ye