“Bring coffee and food, and be smart about it.”
“Samaro,” he continued, “this is delightful! How glad I am to have met you. There, look, even my friend, the cat, is getting fond of you.”
Samaro stroked Black Tom somewhat dubiously. Then he looked up.
“Señor,” he said.
“Yes, Samaro.”
“This is not your private debil, is it?”
“No, no. I assure you it is not. I do not keep a private debil. I shouldn’t know what to do with one.”
“Then, señor,” said Samaro in a low voice, and with one rapid glance towards the toldo entrance, “we will say so. We will tell the boys it is your evil spirit.”
“But why, Samaro?”
“Why, señor, it may save your life many times during your stay in the wilds.”