To Oliver's surprise he closed the door after them. Then, though it was now so dark inside that Oliver could scarce see at all, Chupurosa stood directly before him and looked him up and down.
He spoke now in the melodious Spanish.
"Señor," he asked, "is there in the middle of your body, on the left side, the scar of a wound like a man's eye?"
Oliver caught his breath. "Yes," he replied. "I brought it back from France. A bayonet wound."
Up and down went the iron-grey head of the sage. "I have never seen the weapon nor the sort of wound it makes," he informed Oliver gravely. "Take off your shirt."
"Oh, Chupu-ro-sa!" screamed Jessamy as she threw open the door and slammed it after her.
CHAPTER XI
CONCERNING SPRINGS AND SHOWUT POCHE-DAKA
It was evident to Oliver Drew that Clinker Creek was lowering fast, as Damon Tamroy had predicted that it would do. He feared that it would go entirely dry just when certain vegetables would need it most. Again, also following Tamroy's prophecy, the flow from his spring proved insufficient to keep all of his plantings alive, even though he had impounded the surplus in a small clay-lined reservoir.