“What do you want?” said Bell.
“Give us the money,” said the bandits.
“Oh, all right,” said the American. There were a few pesos only in the safe. He opened, showed them, and they took the money.
“Now give us the rest,” they said.
“There is no more,” said the manager, in all sincerity; for José had not confessed to the thousand pesos.
The five peons then began to search the poor little office. They found a pile of red blankets—which they appropriated—and a few bottles of red wine—which they drank.
“Now,” they said, “give us the money.”
“I can’t give you what there isn’t to give,” said the manager.
“Good!” they said, and pulled out the hideous machetes, the heavy knives of the Mexicans.
José, intimidated, produced the suit-case with the thousand pesos. The money was wrapped up in the corner of a blanket.