Adventure stories; American fiction -- 20th century
Billy was busily engaged in peering through the little window into
the interior of the old Indian's hovel. He saw an American in earnest
conversation with Jose. Who could the man be? Billy did not recognize
him; but presently Jose answered the question.
“It shall be done as you wish, Senor Grayson,” he said.
“Ah!” thought Billy; “the foreman of El Orobo. I wonder what business he
has with this old scoundrel--and at night.”
What other thoughts Billy might have had upon the subject were rudely
interrupted by four energetic gentlemen in his rear, who leaped upon him
simultaneously and dragged him to the ground. Billy made no outcry; but
he fought none the less strenuously for his freedom, and he fought after
the manner of Grand Avenue, which is not a pretty, however effective,
way it may be.
But four against one when all the advantages lie with the four are heavy
odds, and when Grayson and Jose ran out to investigate, and the ranch
foreman added his weight to that of the others Billy was finally
subdued. That each of his antagonists would carry mementos of the battle
for many days was slight compensation for the loss of liberty. However,
it was some.
After disarming their captive and tying his hands at his back they
jerked him to his feet and examined him.
“Who are you?” asked Grayson. “What you doin' sneakin' 'round spyin' on
me, eh?”
“If you wanna know who I am, bo,” replied Billy, “go ask de Harlem
Hurricane, an' as fer spyin' on youse, I wasn't; but from de looks I
guess youse need spyin, yuh tinhorn.”
A pony whinnied a short distance from the hut.
“That must be his horse,” said one of the Villistas, and walked away to
investigate, returning shortly after with the pinto pony and Brazos.
The moment Grayson saw the latter he gave an exclamation of
understanding.
“I know him now,” he said. “You've made a good catch, Sergeant. This
is the fellow who robbed the bank at Cuivaca. I recognize him from the
descriptions I've had of him, and the fact that he's got the Brazos pony
makes it a cinch. Villa oughter promote you for this.”
“Yep,” interjected Billy, “he orter make youse an admiral at least;
but youse ain't got me home yet, an' it'll take more'n four Dagos an' a
tin-horn to do it.”
“They'll get you there all right, my friend,” Grayson assured him. “Now
come along.”
They bundled Billy into his own saddle, and shortly after the little
party was winding southward along the river in the direction of El Orobo
Rancho, with the intention of putting up there for the balance of the
night where their prisoner could be properly secured and guarded. As
they rode away from the dilapidated hut of the Indian the old man stood
silhouetted against the rectangle of dim light which marked the open
doorway, and shook his fist at the back of the departing ranch foreman.
“El cochino!” he cackled, and turned back into his hut.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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