"Even if you do, I confess I am still in the dark."
"Aha! You are laughing now at my expense. Throughout the whole of this comedy I assign you a capital part to play: I make you interesting; I introduce you as the deliverer; are you still in the dark?"
"I myself assumed the character which you say you assigned me; I adopted it myself, alone, without any interference of yours."
"Do you believe that, my son?" said the bandit, with a grin.
Stoneheart, not thinking it necessary to insist on this point, answered:
"I will admit that you may have arranged all that happened; but what are your intentions towards the travellers now they are in the teocali?"
"On my honour, muchacho, I confess that it is not settled yet; it depends entirely on yourself."
"On me?" stammered the other.
"Yes; on my honour. Reflect; decide what you wish me to do: I give you my word that I will conform to your wishes."
"Will you swear so, father,—solemnly swear?"