"All right," Marty was saying rather ungraciously. "We'll give you two dollars, American, for supper and a night's lodging. Two rooms, mind. If you ask more we'll go out and hunt up some other place to stop."
"There ees no othair hotel but Maria's, young señor," said the man in the doorway, laughing.
"We'll go to see the mayor, then," said Janice hastily. "Don Abreguardo, of La Guarda, is our friend."
"Huh?" grunted the woman, looking at the man questioningly. He still laughed. "The mayor of La Guarda is not known here, señorita; and San Cristoval have no cacique."
"What's that?" demanded Marty suspiciously.
"He iss shot in the battle—sí, sí! San Cristoval iss of late a battlefield."
"Oh!" Janice murmured and sat down. Not alone was she very weary, but all strength seemed suddenly to leave her limbs.
"Been having hot times here, have you?" asked Marty briskly. "Who's ahead?"
"Oh, Marty!" gasped his cousin.
"Who has won, señor?" said the catlike man.