THE SULKY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. [unmoved] Why should you? THE ANARCHIST. Why should he not? To each according to his needs: from each according to his means. THE FRENCHMAN. [shaking his fist at the anarchist] Fumiste! MENDOZA. [diplomatically] I agree with both of you. THE GENUINELY ENGLISH BRIGANDS. Hear, hear! Bravo, Mendoza! MENDOZA. What I say is, let us treat one another as gentlemen, and strive to excel in personal courage only when we take the field. THE ROWDY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. [derisively] Shikespear. A whistle comes from the goatherd on the hill. He springs up and points excitedly forward along the road to the north. THE GOATHERD. Automobile! Automobile! [He rushes down the hill and joins the rest, who all scramble to their feet]. MENDOZA. [in ringing tones] To arms! Who has the gun? THE SULKY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. [handing a rifle to Mendoza] Here. MENDOZA. Have the nails been strewn in the road? THE ROWDY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. Two ahnces of em. MENDOZA. Good! [To the Frenchman] With me, Duval. If the nails fail, puncture their tires with a bullet. [He gives the rifle to Duval, who follows him up the hill. Mendoza produces an opera glass. The others hurry across to the road and disappear to the north]. MENDOZA. [on the hill, using his glass] Two only, a capitalist and his chauffeur. They look English. DUVAL. Angliche! Aoh yess. Cochons! [Handling the rifle] Faut tire, n'est-ce-pas? MENDOZA. No: the nails have gone home. Their tire is down: they stop. DUVAL. [shouting to the others] Fondez sur eux, nom de Dieu! MENDOZA. [rebuking his excitement] Du calme, Duval: keep your hair on. They take it quietly. Let us descend and receive them. Mendoza descends, passing behind the fire and coming forward, whilst Tanner and Straker, in their motoring goggles, leather coats, and caps, are led in from the road by brigands. TANNER. Is this the gentleman you describe as your boss? Does he speak English? THE ROWDY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. Course he does. Y'don't suppowz we Hinglishmen lets ahrselves be bossed by a bloomin Spenniard, do you? MENDOZA. [with dignity] Allow me to introduce myself: Mendoza, President of the League of the Sierra! [Posing loftily] I am a brigand: I live by robbing the rich. TANNER. [promptly] I am a gentleman: I live by robbing the poor. Shake hands. THE ENGLISH SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS. Hear, hear! General laughter and good humor. Tanner and Mendoza shake hands. The Brigands drop into their former places. STRAKER. Ere! where do I come in? TANNER. [introducing] My friend and chauffeur. THE SULKY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. [suspiciously] Well, which is he? friend or show-foor? It makes all the difference you know. MENDOZA. [explaining] We should expect ransom for a friend. A professional chauffeur is free of the mountains. He even takes a trifling percentage of his princpal's ransom if he will honor us by accepting it. STRAKER. I see. Just to encourage me to come this way again. Well, I'll think about it.