"'Tis strange! Yet I forget you come from New York. They know him here on this border. If you ask these men they will tell you. Even Senor Lacy takes his orders from Pascual Mendez. He care not who he kill, who he fight--some day it come his turn, and then he liberate Mexico--see? The day is not yet, but it will come." "You mean he is a revolutionist?" "He hate; he live to hate; to revenge the wrong. Twice already he lead the people, but they fail him--the cowards. He return here where it is safe: yet the right time will come." "But you, _senor_?" "I am his lieutenant--Juan Cateras," and he bowed low, "and I ride now to tell him of his guest." She watched him as he spurred forward, proud of his horsemanship, and making every effort to attract her attention. Moore turned in his seat, and grinned. "Some tin soldier," he said sneeringly, "that's a feller I always wanted ter kick, an' some day I'm a goin' ter do it." "You heard what he said?" "Sure; he was tellin' yer 'bout old Mendez being a Mexican revolutionary leader down in Mex, wa'n't he? Hell of a leader he is! I reckon he's been mixed up in scrapes enough down thar, but they had mighty little to do with revolutin'. He's just plain bad man, miss--cattle thief, an' all round outlaw. There's a price on his head in three States, but nobody dares go after it, because of the dangerous gang he controls." Her eyes sought the distant figure doubtfully. "And this man--this Juan Cateras--what of him?" "One of the devil's own imps; I'd a heap rather play with a rattlesnake than him." He paused, to assure him self that Sikes was safely out of hearing. "I thought maybe I better tell yer while I had a chance. That fellar is plumb pisen, miss." She reached out her hand, and touched him. "Thank you," she said gratefully, "I--I am glad you did. Am--am I to be left here with these--these men?" "No, not exactly. I suppose they'll naturally sorter expect to run things while they're here, fer this yere valley is their camp, Mendez has been hidin' out yere fer some time. But Joe and I are goin' to stay, and even old Mendez ain't liable to make no enemy outer Bill Lacy. They had a row wunst, an' I reckon they don't neither of 'em want another. I ain't greatly afeerd o' Mendez, but I wouldn't put nuthin' past this Cateras lad, if he got some hell idea in his head. He's Injun-Mex, an' that's the worst kind."