"Is he to be trusted to speak the truth?"
"Never," said Mr. Day firmly, "unless the truth serves him better than lying."
"Ah!"
"I understand he claims to have escaped from Gomez?"
"Sí, señor."
"It may be so," said Mr. Day. "My daughter and nephew say they were in Gomez's power day before yesterday and they have reason to believe that this Hotchkiss was captured by the bandit."
"And how strong was Gomez's party when the señorita saw eet?"
"Forty!"
"Ah! But this man say he have thousands of troops—that an attack in force is intended on the mesa."
"It sounds as though there was some fighting going on out there," admitted Mr. Day. "But it may just be my own troops wasting ammunition. They have plenty—and are like children."