ied, and stepped out to
intercept the gray gelding, but Pablo, riding behind, struck the gray
on the flank, and the animal bounded forward. But Parker was not to be
denied. He, too, leaped, seized the reins, and brought the animal to a
halt. Pablo glared at him hatefully; then, remembering that this man
was no longer an interloper, but an honored guest of the house of
Farrel, he removed his sombrero and bowed courteously.

"Senor Parker," he explained, "thees man, Loustalot, have made the beeg
meestake to steal thees horse from Don Miguel Farrel. For long time
since Don Miguel he's beeg like leetle baby, thees Basque he cannot set
the foot on the Rancho Palomar, but to-day, because he theenk Don
Miguel don' leeve, theese fellow have the beeg idea she's all right for
come to theese rancho. Well, he come." Here Pablo shrugged. "I think
mebbeso you tell theese Loustalot Don Miguel have come back.
_Car-ramba_! He is scared like hell. Queeck, like rabbeet, he run for
those automobile, but those automobile she have one leak in the wheel.
_Senor_, thees is the judgment of God. Myself, I theenk the speerit of
Don Miguel's father have put the nail where thees fellow can peeck heem
up. Well, when hee's nothing for do, hee's got for do sometheeng, eh?
_Mira_! If Don Miguel catch thees coyote on the Rancho Palomar, hee's
cut off hees tail like that"--and Pablo snapped his tobacco-stained
fingers. "Queeck! Hee's got for do something for make the vamose.
The Senorita Parker, she rides Panchito and holds the gray horse for
Don Miguel, who has gone for get the dogs. Thees animal, Loustalot,
hee's go crazy with the fear, so he grab thees gray horse from the
Senorita Parker and hee's ride away fast like the devil just when Don
Miguel arrive with the hounds. Then Don Miguel, hee's take Panchito
and go get thees man."

"But where are Don Miguel and Miss Parker now?"

"Mees Parker, she take the automobile; the senorita and Don Miguel go
to El Toro. Me, I come back with thees Basque for put heem in the
calaboose."

"But, Pablo, you cannot confine this man without a warrant."

Pablo, too polite to argue with a guest, merely bowed and smiled
deprecatingly.

"My boss, hee's tell me put thees fellow in the calaboose. If trouble
come from thees--well, Don Miguel have the fault, not Pablo Artelan.
If the _senor_ please for let go the gray horse--no?"

"Farrel has gone to El Toro to attach my bank-account and my sheep,"
t