Bruno made a sign of impatience, but followed his brother, who examined the cock, studied it, meditated and reflected, asked some questions. The poor fellow was in doubt. Bruno gazed at him with nervous anger. "But don't you see that wide scale he has by the side of his spur? Don't you see those feet? What more do you want? Look at those legs, spread out his wings! And this split scale above this wide one, and this double one?" Tarsilo did not hear him, but went on examining the cock. The clinking of gold and silver came to his ears. "Now let's look at the _bulik_," he said in a thick voice. Bruno stamped on the ground and gnashed his teeth, but obeyed. They approached another group where a cock was being prepared for the ring. A gaff was selected, red silk thread for tying it on was waxed and rubbed thoroughly. Tarsilo took in the creature with a gloomily impressive gaze, as if he were not looking at the bird so much as at something in the future. He rubbed his hand across his forehead and said to his brother in a stifled voice, "Are you ready?" "I? Long ago! Without looking at them!" "But, our poor sister--" "_Abá!_ Haven't they told you that Don Crisostomo is the leader? Didn't you see him walking with the Captain-General? What risk do we run?" "And if we get killed?" "What's the difference? Our father was flogged to death!" "You're right!" The brothers now sought for Lucas in the different groups. As soon as they saw him Tarsilo stopped. "No! Let's get out of here! We're going to ruin ourselves!" he exclaimed. "Go on if you want to! I'm going to accept!" "Bruno!" Unfortunately, a man approached them, saying, "Are you betting? I'm for the _bulik!_" The brothers did not answer. "I'll give odds!" "How much?" asked Bruno. The man began to count out his pesos. Bruno watched him breathlessly. "I have two hundred. Fifty to forty!" "No," said Bruno resolutely. "Put--" "All right! Fifty to thirty!" "Double it if you want to." "All right. The _bulik_ belongs to my protector and I've just won. A hundred to sixty!" "Taken! Wait till I get the money." "But I'll hold the stakes," said the other, not confiding much in Bruno's looks. "It's all the same to me," answered the latter, trusting to his fists. Then turning to his brother he added, "Even if you do keep out, I'm going in." Tarsilo reflected: he loved his brother and liked the sport, and, unable to desert him, he murmured, "Let it go." They made their way to Lucas, who, on seeing them approach, smiled. "Sir!" called Tarsilo. "What's up?" "How much will you give us?" asked the two brothers together. "I've already told you. If you will undertake to get others for the purpose of making a surprise-attack on the barracks, I'll give each of you thirty pesos and ten pesos for each companion you bring. If all goes well, each one will receive a hundred pesos and you double that amount. Don Crisostomo is rich." "Accepted!" exclaimed Bruno. "Let's have the money."