A second later Murillo, kicking and gasping, clawing at the air, had been lifted like an infant by Badger, who seemed on the point of hurling him headlong through the open window.
"Santa Maria! Mercee!" begged the frightened wretch. "Spare me, señor! Spare me, good señor! Eef you throw me through the window, eet will keel me!"
"And that wouldn't be any great loss to the world, I judge," said the man from Kansas.
But now Juanita interfered.
"Oh, please do not throw heem from the train, señor!" she implored. "Even eef I do despise heem, I should not weesh to see heem keeled."
Badger chuckled.
"Well, on condition that the gent will promise a whole lot that he'll quit bothering you, I'll let him off and won't throw him out of the window. Speak up, you whining, chattering gopher! Make the promise instanter, or out you go!"
"Oh, I promeese, señor—I swear!" came from the frightened Mexican.
"Swear by all your saints," commanded Badger.
"By all the saints, I swear!" gasped Murillo.