"'_Muchos gratias_, senor,' said I, having some anxiety to be on good terms with the fellow. "'How far do you go to-night?' "'To Orizaba.' "'A light, if you please, senor--I have lost all my lucifers.' "He was a sallow, dark-skinned, half-blood; that is, half Mexican, half Spaniard, and wholly devil--partly seaman, partly landsman, and wholly pirate in spirit." "Good heavens!" exclaimed Rose, "were you not terrified to be alone with such a person in such a place? I am sure I should have screamed and died of fright." Hawkshaw smiled and continued: "His eyes, black and sparkling, told of a cunning equal to that of the serpent in the scripture, and of a ferocity that death alone could tame. He had neither beard nor moustache, for he was too young; but his raven hair hung in masses beside his olive cheeks, and he had silver rings in his ears. "Such was Zuares Barradas, who, like his brother, Pedro, feared nothing on earth, and respected nothing in heaven." "Was, you say--is he now dead?" asked Ethel. "You shall hear; but such fellows don't die easily, Miss Basset, be assured. "'Are you looking for game?' I asked. "'_Por vida del demonio_, that I am!' said he, with a savage grin, 'but it is neither the elk, the jaguar, or the vinado I seek.' "'What then, _amigo mio_?' "'You must know,' began the young rascal, 'that Pedro and I have spent all our money--every duro, yes, every quartil--he at the wineshop, and I on Katarina, the barmaid at the Pasada de Todos Santos, and that other jade with the wheel--what's her name?--Fortune has since been as unkind to me as Katarina, with whom I parted on bad terms.' "'You quarrelled?' said I. "Zuares looked keenly into the gully, listened a moment, and then resumed his bantering style. "'When last I visited the posada, Katarina had on a very handsome crucifix and pair of silver bracelets, so I took them off, saying, "Senora, a beautiful bosom, and such pretty hands as yours, require no adornment. Permit me to relieve you of these baubles--they are absurd!" She was about to permit herself the luxury of screaming, but I touched my knife and quieted her. Since then I have been left to shift for myself, as my father and mother too have turned their venerable backs upon me.' "'I have not a coin, Zuares,' said I, with growing alarm, lest the underwood of aloes might be full of such evil weeds as the younger Barradas. 'Surely you mean not to rob me?'