"Senor Parker," he explained, "thees man, Loustalot, have made the beeg meestake to steal thees horse from Don Miguel Farrel. For long time since Don Miguel he's beeg like leetle baby, thees Basque he cannot set the foot on the Rancho Palomar, but to-day, because he theenk Don Miguel don' leeve, theese fellow have the beeg idea she's all right for come to theese rancho. Well, he come." Here Pablo shrugged. "I think mebbeso you tell theese Loustalot Don Miguel have come back. _Car-ramba_! He is scared like hell. Queeck, like rabbeet, he run for those automobile, but those automobile she have one leak in the wheel. _Senor_, thees is the judgment of God. Myself, I theenk the speerit of Don Miguel's father have put the nail where thees fellow can peeck heem up. Well, when hee's nothing for do, hee's got for do sometheeng, eh? _Mira_! If Don Miguel catch thees coyote on the Rancho Palomar, hee's cut off hees tail like that"--and Pablo snapped his tobacco-stained fingers. "Queeck! Hee's got for do something for make the vamose. The Senorita Parker, she rides Panchito and holds the gray horse for Don Miguel, who has gone for get the dogs. Thees animal, Loustalot, hee's go crazy with the fear, so he grab thees gray horse from the Senorita Parker and hee's ride away fast like the devil just when Don Miguel arrive with the hounds. Then Don Miguel, hee's take Panchito and go get thees man." "But where are Don Miguel and Miss Parker now?" "Mees Parker, she take the automobile; the senorita and Don Miguel go to El Toro. Me, I come back with thees Basque for put heem in the calaboose." "But, Pablo, you cannot confine this man without a warrant." Pablo, too polite to argue with a guest, merely bowed and smiled deprecatingly. "My boss, hee's tell me put thees fellow in the calaboose. If trouble come from thees--well, Don Miguel have the fault, not Pablo Artelan. If the _senor_ please for let go the gray horse--no?" "Farrel has gone to El Toro to attach my bank-account and my sheep," the Basque explained in a whisper, leaning low over the gray's neck. "His father had an old judgment against me. When I thought young Farrel dead, I dared do business--in my own name--understand? Now, if he collects, you've lost the Rancho Palomar--help me, for God's sake, Parker!" Parker's hand fell away from the reins. "I have no sympathy for you, Loustalot," he replied, coldly. "If you have stolen this horse, you must pay the penalty. I shall not help you. This is no affair of mine." And he stepped aside and waved Loustalot back into Pablo's possession, who thanked him politely and rode away round the hacienda wall. Three minutes later, Loustalot, his hands unbound, was safe under lock and key in the settlement-room, and Pablo, rifle in lap, sat on a box outside the door and rolled a brown-paper cigarette. Throughout the preceding colloquy, Mrs. Parker had said nothing. When Pablo and his prisoner had disappeared, she asked her husband: