so easy!" laughed the bandit.

"Easy!" Gilbert repeated.

"_Si._ My frand"--his hand went to Gilbert's shoulder--"ees great
opportunity, ees revolution, for make speed. When I got well, I find I do
not enjoy my work, which are 'ard. Business? Business, she make me sick! I
say for myself, 'What to do?' Zen, suddenly I sink, 'I shall be soldado!'
Soldier which shall be giv ze 'orse, ze gun, ze woman, and nozzing to do
but shoot a little sometimes! Ees a wonderful life, my frand!" The smoke of
his cigarette curled to the ceiling.

"I didn't find it so," young Jones said, and smiled in his dry way.

"Pah! It's too many damn rules in your army. For us who make revolution,
no! We sleep so late we damn please. We fight some when we feel so. If we
find ze hacienda, we take all what we choose. When we need money, we go to
city and rob ze bank--we 'elp for ourselves food from ze store, shoes,
clothes, candy, ze cigarette, agauriante--" he made as if to drink from an
imaginary glass--"booze! An' if anybody 'ide anysing we cut 'is fingers off
so's 'e tell us. She is one fine life! You like for try? I make you
general! Come!"

His face was radiant. The recollection of his army life filled him with
joy.

But Gilbert shook his head. "Not for me, thank you," he smiled.

Lopez merely shrugged his shoulders. "So! I was afraid!"

"But how did you get ahead so fast?" young Jones wanted to know. "That's
what sticks me."

The bandit laughed. "Zat is simple. You see, one day ze lieutenant she are
killed. Soon I become a lieutenant. Nex' day, ze captain. So I am captain,
Byme-bye, ze major--so I became major. Pretty damn soon ze colonel--so I am
colonel. I kill ze general for myself." As he spoke, he lifted the chair
at the table, and brought it down on the floor with a bang.

"What!" cried Gilbert, at this description of an opera-bouffe army.

"But we shall not talk of me," Lopez said. "We shall spik of you. 'Ow you
been since I seen you, what?" He tossed away his cigarette.

Gilbert offered him another of his own.

"No, gratias; zat's for peon. Zese from ze swell hotel National an
Torreon--zay are good. I steal zem myself," pulling out his case and
lighting another. He pushed his chair so that he could see young Jones
better. "Well, old frand, how you feel zis long time? Eh?"

"I?" said Gilbert. He smiled a little, and looked significantly about the
room.

Lopez caught the look. "So?" he said, sympathy in his tone. "It ees