"Who's there?" Patito shouted, as he leaped on one side.
"A friend!" Blas Salazar answered, as he came from behind the maple and joined the gaucho, whose hand he shook.
"Ah, ah, capataz, you are welcome. You were listening too, then?"
"I should think so. I took advantage of the opportunity to instruct myself about Don Torribio."
"Well?"
"This caballero appears to me a precious scoundrel, but, with the aid of Heaven, we will ruin his dark schemes."
"So be it!"
"And, in the first place, what do you intend to do?"
"On my word I do not know. There's a buzzing in my ears, 'kill me cleverly.' Corrocho and Panchito are certainly the most hideous villains of the Pampa."
"¡Caramba! I have known them a long time, and at present they alarm me but slightly."