"You laugh because you do not understand. But why should we Sonorans fight side by side with the Federals and _rurales_? Are they not the soldiers of Diaz, who have simply changed to another master? That Manuel del Rey was last year hunting down Maderistas in the hills; now he is fighting for Madero! And to-morrow? Who can say?" She shrugged her shoulders scornfully, and Hooker perceived that she was in earnest in her dislike of the dashing captain, but prudence warned him to say nothing if he would escape being drawn into the quarrel. "No," she went on, after an expectant pause, "let the _rurales_ pursue these bandits--they are hired for that purpose! But if Orozco and Salazar join this _ladrón_, Bernardo Bravo, and seek to capture our towns, then, Señor Americano, you will see real war and men fighting to the death! Ah, you laugh again--you are a Texan and judge us Sonorans by the cowardly Chihuahuans--but it is the truth. And I, for one," she added naïvely, "would be almost glad to have war. Do you know why? To see if you would really defend me!" She smiled, looking frankly into his eyes, and Bud blushed to the roots of his hair, but once again he held his peace. "What, _señor_," she bantered; "you do not speak? Surely, then, your friend De Lancey was wrong when he said you would save me! For look, Mr. Hooker, I am promised to marry dear Phil; but how can I manage that when Manuel del Rey is watching me? It is impossible, is it not?" "Seems so," muttered Bud, and in the back of his head he began to think quickly. Here was the fountainhead of his misfortunes, and if she had her way she would lay all his plans in ruins--and even then not marry Phil. In fact, from the light way she spoke, he sensed that she did not intend to marry him. Her grudge was against Manuel del Rey who drove away all her lovers. "Well," he ventured, "there's no rush, I reckon--Phil's enlisted for five years." "Ha!" she cried contemptuously. "And do you think he will serve? No! At a word from me he will flee to the border and I shall join him in the United States!" "What?" demanded Bud. "Phil desert?" In a moment he saw what such a move would mean to him--to Kruger and the Eagle Tail--and he woke suddenly from his calm. "Here now," he said, scowling as he saw that she was laughing at him, "you've made me and Phil enough trouble. You let that boy alone, savvy?" He stooped toward her as he spoke, fixing her with masterful eyes that had tamed many a bad horse and man, and she shrank away instinctively. Then she glanced at him shyly and edged over toward the open door. "I will do what I please, Mr. Hooker," she returned, balancing on the verge of flight. "All right," Bud came back; "but don't you call me in on it. You've made a fool out of Phil--I suppose you'd like to get me, too. Then your father would grab our mine." "What do you mean?" she challenged, turning back upon him.