"The lady you have just seen is my choice--the young woman from Arizona," answered Pasquale, flashing from under his heavy grizzled brows a sharp, questioning look at the Texan. "Indeed! I shall be happy to meet the lady and wish her joy," replied Holcomb lightly. "You shall, captain. She's a little reluctant yet, but Gabriel has a way of overcoming that. I shall be married on Saturday." "Ah!" The face of the Texan had as much expression as a piece of flint. Pasquale, watching him warily, wondered what he was thinking behind those hard, steel-gray eyes. CHAPTER XX NEAR THE END OF HIS TRAIL Harrison strode up and down the room furiously. "Who in Mexico is this Pasquale?" he demanded, and then answered his own question: "Scum of the earth, a peon whipped for stealing whiskey, a hill robber and murderer. In my country they'd take the scoundrel and hang him by the neck." "True, amigo,--all true," assented Culvera suavely, examining his cigarette as he spoke. "But it is well to remember that walls have ears, and therefore to whisper--when one speaks of Gabriel." "I'm not afraid of him," boasted the American, but his voice fell. "I am," differed Culvera frankly. "Ramon is fond of Ramon, so he chooses a safe time to pay his debts--and he does not advertise in advance that he is going to settle." "Bah! You sit still and do nothing. But I--By God! I'll not stand it. He has given it out he will be married Saturday. We'll see about that. Maybe he'll be buried that day instead." The dark eyes of the Mexican swept him with a sidelong glance. If he could do it without incurring responsibility himself, he was very willing to spur on the fierce passion of this man. "Be careful, senor. Pasquale is dangerous." "You know he is dangerous--to Ramon Culvera. Why don't you strike and be done with it?" "The time is not ripe. Some day--perhaps--" He let a shrug of his shoulders finish the sentence for him. "It's always manana with you Mexicans," sneered Harrison with a savage lift of the lip. "You want to play it safe all the time. Why don't you take a chance?" "I play my own cards, senor," returned Ramon equably. "You play 'em darned close to your stomach. Me, I go out on a limb oncet in a while." "Be sure you don't stay out there--at the end of a rope," smiled the Mexican. "They haven't grown the hemp yet that will hang Chad Harrison." The prizefighter leaned toward him, eyes shining. "If I pull it off and make my getaway--what then? Will you send the girl to me, wherever I am?" "You mean, if you--" "--Give Pasquale what's been coming to him for a long time." The eyes of Culvera were slits of light. His face was a brown mask that covered an alert and wary attention. "I didn't hear what you said, amigo. It is better that I shouldn't. But if I had charge of the army instead of General Pasquale my policy would be different. I would return this Arizona girl to her home." "To her home!" broke in Harrison harshly.