“I chased them many kilometers,” he said, wiping the perspiration from his face, “but they escaped. I must have killed or at least wounded some of them, because I shot at them each time I got near enough.” David appeared elated. “I would consider it an honor to clean the revolver of such a brave man,” he said quickly. “The barrel must be all fouled. Please, may I?” Dom Carlos scowled as he hesitated. “Let him do it.” It was Rice who spoke, as if indulgently. “A man with courage such as yours should have a servant.” The foreman smiled at this compliment. And, besides, here was another opportunity to humiliate David. He carelessly removed the revolver from the holster and laid it on the table. David had it in an instant. “Now take off the belt and give it to the boss,” he commanded, levelling the weapon at the foreman, “and do it right away.” The latter flew into a rage. “Are you going to let this _mozo_ insult and threaten me like that?” he asked. “Go on, Carlos. Take it off.” It was Rice who spoke. “Better humor him; he has us at a disadvantage.” At this the foreman was too startled to make a reply. He began to understand the turn affairs were taking. His arms hung limply. He was about to collapse. “I’ll take it off for you, then,” David said. He handed the belt to Rice. “Look into the little pocket under the holster and you will know who stole your cattle.” Rice obeyed mechanically, with trembling fingers, and found not one but two pieces of paper. “I see,” he said; “receipts for both lots of cattle that disappeared. Carlos, what have you to say?” But the man was incapable of speech. He had slumped, moaning, to the floor. Several of the men, coming at Rice’s call, removed him to an inner room and remained to guard him. David now told the whole story of what had occurred, ending with, “Miguel is staying with the cattle until you send someone to help him round them up and bring them back. I’m going to pack my things now, so I can start early in the morning.” He turned to go, but Rice grasped his arm and held him fast. “No!” he said in a strained voice. “I don’t blame you for wanting to get away from here, and after what you’ve gone through I have no right to ask you to stay to endure more of it. But don’t leave--tomorrow morning. Wait a few days longer. There will be a launch then.” “I can go alone, as I came. The one comforting thought I can take with me from Las Palmas is that I didn’t trouble anyone, and I can’t start doing that now.” “I want to see you in the morning.” Again Rice was pleading. “Promise that you’ll stay just one more day. I have something to say to you.” And David promptly showed his fine character by agreeing to the request. “I am expecting the launch from Manaos any hour now,” Rice said the next morning, after warmly greeting David. “It will bring a surprise for you.” “Mail!” David exclaimed enthusiastically. “It has been so long since I had a letter from home.”