rse became restless, and when
Hopalong had effectively quieted it he spoke again.

"Did yu ever hear of Tamale Jose?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm th' fellow that stopped him in th' 'dobe hut by th' arroyo.
I'm tellin' yu this so yu won't do nothin' rash an' leave Carmencita a
widow. Sabe?"

The hate on the Mexican's face redoubled and he took a short step
forward, but stopped when the muzzle of the Colt kissed his nose. He was
the brother of Tamale Jose. As he backed away from the cool touch of
the weapon he thought out swiftly his revenge. Some of his brother's
old companions were at that moment drinking mescal in a saloon down the
street, and they would be glad to see this Americano die. He glanced
past his house at the saloon and Hopalong misconstrued his thoughts.

"Shore, go home. I'll just circulate around some for exercise. No hard
feelings, only yu better throw it next time," he said as he backed away
and rode off. Manuel went down the street and then ran into the saloon,
where he caused an uproar.

Hopalong rode to the end of the plaza and tried to sing, but it was a
dismal failure. Then he felt thirsty and wondered why he hadn't thought
of it before. Turning his horse and seeing the saloon he rode up to it
and in, lying flat on the animal's neck to avoid being swept off by the
door frame. His entrance scared white some half a dozen loungers, who
immediately sprang up in a decidedly hostile manner. Hopalong's Colts
peeped over the ears of his horse and he backed into a corner near the
bar.

"One, two, three--now, altogether, breathe! Yu acts like yu never saw a
real puncher afore. All th' same," he remarked, nodding at several
of the crowd, "I've seen yu afore. Yu are th' gents with th' hot-foot
get-a-way that vamoosed when we got Tamale."

Curses were flung at him and only the humorous mood he was in saved
trouble. One, bolder than the rest, spoke up: "The senor will not see
any 'hot-foot get-a-way,' as he calls it, now! The senor was not wise to
go so far away from his friends!"'

Hopalong looked at the speaker and a quizzical grin slowly spread over
his face. "They'll shore feel glad when I tells them yu was askin' for
'em. But didn't yu see too much of 'em once, or was yu poundin' leather
in the other direction? Yu don't want to worry none about me--an' if yu
don't get yore hands closter to yore neck they'll be heck to pay! There,
that's more like home," he remarked, nodding assurance.

Reaching over h