The man who seemed the leader had been speaking in Spanish. A trace of foreign accent was in each word, though he spoke the language fluently and correctly.
The other man broke in with:
"Coffee's cooling fast, Cap'. If they don't take it now, I'll have to heat it up again all over. Kiyi that to 'em in their own lingo. Wish I knew how to."
He had been standing holding in one hand a steaming saucepan, in the other an improvised wooden tray on which were two metal goblets.
The Señorita Carmelita struggled with some difficulty to a sitting position.
"We thank you for your thoughtfulness," she said.
"The young lady says she won't have the mess—is that it, Cap'?" asked the man holding the saucepan and goblets.
Carmelita was about to reply in English, but the leader said, quickly: "Give them your preparation there, Brown. Don't be slow. They should have had it drunk by this time."
Brown complied with the order.
The woman and the girl sipped the steaming liquid.