"Thank you! One word more. If I die on the road, you will tell Doña Concha that the assassin—"
"That the assassin—" Pedrito repeated, finding the other hesitate.
"But, no," the capataz continued, "it is unnecessary. God will not permit me to die before I have seen her."
"As you please. Let us be off."
"At full speed; you promise that?"
"Like lightning."
He remounted, placed before him the capataz, who had no horse, and who, besides, was too weak to sit one, then relaxing the bridle, and digging in his spurs, he flew along with the velocity of the phantom horse in the German ballad.
Pedrito's horse, when it reached the gates of the estancia, slipped with all four feet at once, and fell dead. But the bombero, who had foreseen this accident, came down on his feet, and holding in his arms his friend the capataz, whom the shocks of this infernal ride had caused to faint for the second time.
Patito helped the bombero to carry poor Don Blas as far as the house.
Doña Concha, who had regained her senses, insisted, in spite of her father's entreaties, on remaining by the side of the wounded man. She lavished attentions on him, poured into his month a few drops of a powerful cordial, and awaited his return to life.