y pull;
indeed, Tejon knew the trick of curling his chin down close to his
chest, so that the girl's strength upon the reins was as nothing.

Jack was almost close enough to make it seem worth while to call
encouragement, when a horseman appeared suddenly from behind a willow
clump and pulled up in astonishment, as he saw Teresita bearing down
upon him like a small whirlwind. Whereupon Tejon, recognizing horse
and rider and knowing of old that they meant leisurely riding and much
chatter, with little laughs for punctuation, slowed of his own accord
and so came up to the man at his usual easy lope, and stopped before
him.

So quickly did it happen that a witness might easily have sworn in
perfect good faith that the girl was fleeing from Jack Allen and
pulled up thankfully when she met Jose Pacheco. One could not blame
Jose for so interpreting the race, or for the anger that blazed in
his eyes for the pursuer, even while his lips parted in a smile at
the coming of the girl. He reined in protectingly between her and the
approaching Jack, and spoke soothingly because of her apparent need.

"Be not frightened, querida mia. Thou art safe with me--and the
accursed gringo will get a lesson he will not soon forget, for
daring--"

Teresita, looking back, discovered Jack behind her. He was pulling
Surry in, now, and he held his riata in one hand as though he were
ready to use it at a moment's notice, and blank astonishment was
on his face. That, perhaps, was because of Jose and Jose's hostile
attitude, standing crosswise of the trail like that, and scowling
while he waited, with the fingers of his right hand fumbling inside
his sash--for his dagger, perchance! Teresita smiled wickedly, in
appreciation of the joke on them both.

"Do not kill him, Jose," she begged caressingly. "Truly he did not
harm me! I but ran from him because--" She sent a smile straight to
the leaping heart of Jose, and fumbled with her tossing banner of
hair, and turned eyes of innocent surprise on the Senor Allen, who
needed some punishment--and was in fair way to get it.

"What is the pleasure of the senor?" Jose's voice was as smooth and as
keen as the dagger-blade under his sash. "His message must indeed
be urgent to warrant such haste! You would do well to ride back as
hastily as you came; for truly a blind man could see that the senorita
has not the smallest desire for your presence. As for me--" As for
him, he smiled a sneer and a threat toget