"Would you suspect any treachery?" Don Louis asked, looking up.
"In the desert you must always suspect treachery," Belhumeur said peremptorily, "especially from chance companions."
"Still this Tigrero, this Don Martial—that is his name I think—has a very honest eye, my friend, to be a traitor."
"That is true; still you will agree that ever since we first met him his conduct has been remarkably queer."
"I grant it; but you know as well as I how much passion blinds a man. I believe him to be in love."
"So do I. Still notice, pray, that in all this affair which regards him specially, and in which we have only mixed ourselves to do him a service, while neglecting our own occupations, he has always kept in the background, as if afraid to show himself."
At this moment Blas Vasquez, after stationing the peons a short distance off, so as to remain unseen, came up and took his seat by the fire.
"There!" he said, "All is ready: the Apaches can come and attack us whenever they think proper."
"One word, capataz," Belhumeur said.
"Two if you like."