"What is it?"
"I said one, but ought to have said two."
"I am waiting till you think proper to express yourself more clearly," Don Miguel said with a slight tinge of impatience, "before I answer."
"You have quarrelled with a North American bandit."
"Red Cedar."
"Yes; and when you had him in your power you let him escape, instead of killing him out and out."
"That is true, and I was wrong. What would you? The villain has as tough a life as an alligator. But be at ease. If ever he fall into my hands again, I swear that I will not miss him."
"In the meanwhile you did do so—that is the evil."
"Why so?"
"You will understand me. This man is one of those villains, the scum of the United States, too many of whom have lived on the frontier during the last few years. I do not know how he contrived to deceive your New York agent; but he gained his confidence so cleverly that the latter told him all the secrets he knew about your enterprise."