"I know that. Be sure that I shall make no friends without the greatest prudence. I only trust, too, so far the Captain's right-hand man."
"Oh, you mean Joe?" broke in Rosario, joyfully.
"He worked this round so that we are in communion. He suggested my seeing you too. I do not know how he managed it, but he has levelled off obstacles. Besides, he brought me into relations with a young fellow, almost a boy, who has been most useful to me, I assure you. Without his helping hand, I could not have gained this place."
"Ah! You allude to poor Drudge now," said the two girls, with the same affectionate pity.
"That's the boy. But allow me to ask you, Doña, if you have had a long knowledge of them?"
"Ever since I quitted the borders in charge of these ruffians."
"Well, what is your opinion of them; your cold drawn opinion of them, as they say? You will readily understand that I am too much of a stranger to this part of the world, and such queer uncommon persons as I meet, to judge quickly."
"They bewilder me too," added Miss Maclan.
"They both have done me great services. They say they are devoted to you, Doña Rosario, but as nothing proves to me yet that this devotion is not assumed, I fear to be cheated, and even that I am cheated in trusting them so far. Nothing more closely resembles a good servant than a hypocritical one, and between ourselves, I must own that Corky Joe has no winning countenance, better ones have hung a man."
The girls laughed, Rosario the heartier.