CHAPTER XXII
Held For Ransom
And while Phil was eating his meal, a conversation was taking place between Espato and Juan Arigo, his lieutenant, which affected the captive very closely.
Directly after Phil had been locked up in his prison again, Arigo had drawn his chief apart from the others and had begun to talk earnestly with him, hands and arms gesticulating wildly.
At first Espato had not appeared particularly pleased with the suggestions of his lieutenant, but gradually his face had cleared and into his eyes had crept a covetous gleam.
“Perhaps you are right, Arigo,” he said at last and fell to stroking his chin thoughtfully.
“I know I am right,” retorted the lieutenant with a mixture of deference and boldness. Next to the bandit chief he was the worst feared man in all the Mexican country. “Loot has been scarce. Our larders are nearly empty. Someway we must fill them. This young Americano is a chance sent from heaven.”
The chief nodded slowly.
“His friends will pay one grand ransom,” he said, rubbing his hands together as though he already felt the good American gold between them. “They think much of this Americano—and with reason. He is dangerous to the Mexicans—ver-ry dangerous. He rob us of prisoners, of money, he make of me a marked man, this scar upon my forehead so that everyone may know me. He is most desperate. He iss dangerous to Mexicans. He should die.”
It was plain that he was working himself into a passion and Arigo shrugged indifferently.
“Kill the Americano—no loot,” he said, adding slyly, “The money of the Americanos buys many things.”