"Whassa malla _Mike_?" inquired Hung Wo nervously. "He go Yuma?" "No, Charley," returned Todhunter, "last night he have one hell of a big fight—this man break his jaw." "Whassa malla _Pete_?" "This man break his head with chair." "Ooo!" breathed Hung Wo, peering through the bars, "me no go in." "Well, now, you see what you git for your cussedness," observed the deputy coldly. "The Chink won't come in and the chances are you'll starve to death; that is, providin' them other fellers don't beat you to death first, for makin' 'em lose their breakfast. Feelin' pretty cagey, ain't they?" They were, and Pecos realized that if he didn't square himself with Hung Wo right away and get him to feed the animals, he would have a bread riot on his hands later—and besides, he was hungry himself. So he spoke quickly and to the point. "What's the matter, Charley?" he expostulated, "you 'fraid of me?" "Me no likee!" said the Chinaman impersonally. "No, of course not; but here—lemme tell you! You savvy Pete Monat—all same alcalde, eh? You savvy Mike—all same boss, hey? Well, last night me lick Pete and Mike. You see this strap? All right; _me_ boss now—you give me big pie every day, you come in!" "Me no got big pie to-day," protested Hung Wo anxiously. "Oh, that's all right—me takum other feller's pie, this time—you come in!" "Allite!" agreed the simple-minded Oriental, and when the iron doors rolled apart he entered without a quiver. Back where he came from a bargain is a bargain and it is a poor boss indeed who does not demand his rake-off. The day was won and, throwing back his head imperiously, Pecos stalked down the line of cells until he came to the one where the inmates were making the most noise. "Here!" he said, and when they looked up he remarked: "You fellers are too gay to suit me—I'll jest dock you your pieces of pie!" And when the Chinaman arrived Pecos carefully lifted the pie from each plate and piled all up on his own. "This'll teach you to keep your mouths shut!" he observed, and retiring to the iron gates he squatted down on his heels and ate greedily.