"A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!" "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone. "What nest of vipers are you speaking of?" "The hacienda Del Valle--what other should it be? There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result. No, not without result, for I've just this moment learnt that three of our people have been killed in a sortie, and that this accursed Catalan, who commands the place, has nailed their heads over the door of the hacienda!" "Who has told you this?" quickly demanded Arroyo. "Gaspacho. He is outside awaiting your orders. He has been sent to ask for a reinforcement." "By all the devils!" cried Arroyo in a rage. "Woman! who has given you the privilege of interrogating the couriers that are sent me?" As he put this interrogatory the brigand sprang to his feet; and, seizing the bullock's skull upon which he had been seated, made a motion as if he would crush with it that of his amazonian partner. Perhaps, influenced by the late councils of Bocardo, he would have decided on bearing the public execration upon his own shoulders, had it not been for that scapulary blessed by the Pope, and whose fatal influence he at the moment remembered. Bocardo paid no attention to the threatening demonstration of his associate, but sat phlegmatically silent. "_Maria Santissima_!" exclaimed the virago, as she retreated before the angry menace of her husband. "Will you not protect me, Senor Bocardo?" "Hum!" replied the latter, without moving from his seat, "you know the proverb, worthy Senora? Between the tree and the bark--you understand? These little domestic broils--" "Must not occur any more," interposed Arroyo, quieting down; "and now, Senora," continued he, addressing himself to his helpmate, "before receiving Gaspacho, I have a commission for you to execute." "What may that be?" brusquely demanded the woman, elevating her tone in proportion as that of her husband became lowered. "It is a magnificent scheme conceived by me," interrupted Bocardo. "Ah!" exclaimed the virago, "if you had only as much courage as intelligence, Senor Bocardo!" "Bah! Arroyo has courage enough for both of us." "That," said Arroyo, suddenly turning his anger upon his associate, who had not the advantage of possessing a charmed scapulary, "that is as much as to say that you have the intelligence for both of us?" "God forbid I should either say or think so," rejoined Bocardo in an humble tone; "you are as intelligent as you are brave, Senor Arroyo." "Wife!" continued Arroyo, without appearing to listen to the fulsome flattery of his associate, "go and interrogate once more the prisoner we have taken. Find out if possible what errand he was on--"