“I’ll shoot you if you do,” declared Billie.
“Mercy! Mercy! Señores!” cried the oarsman. “I have done nothing for which I should be shot.”
“You are protecting the gringo!” said Don Pablo.
“You are protecting Don Pablo!” repeated Billie, who, now that he had shaken the water out of his eyes and had secured a firm footing, could fully appreciate the strange condition of affairs.
If Don Pablo should carry out his threat to shoot the man, he would leave himself at Billie’s mercy. Should Billie shoot first, and his bullet fail to reach Don Pablo, he would be at the mercy of the Mexican.
But Billie seemed to have the best of the situation, for all he wished to do was to hold Don Pablo
at bay until the boat from the American shore should come to his rescue. As a result he was satisfied to let matters remain as they were. Especially did he feel that he had the better of the situation when he heard the sound of oar-locks from out the darkness.
“You won’t have to stand long,” he said to the oarsman, “I hear them coming after us. As soon as they arrive you can sit down.”
“They shall never get us!” exclaimed Don Pablo. “I’ll die first!” and he pulled the trigger of his revolver.
Had the old man fired without speaking, there is no knowing what damage he might have done; but, from his words, Billie guessed exactly what he proposed to do, and ere Don Pablo could pull the trigger, he rocked the boat. As might have been expected, the shot flew wild, as Don Pablo sought to maintain his balance.