“I wouldn’t do that, senor,” said Jack quietly, but with a gleam in his eyes. “By the way, we’ve a proverb in our country that might interest you.”
“A proverb,—bah! what is it?”
“Why, they say a bad workman always complains of his tools,” rejoined Jack, looking the other straight in the eye. “Think it over.”
Before the other could reply it was Jack’s turn once more, Walt and Ralph both having scored failures. Once more the Border Boy succeeded, thus getting one point ahead of the rest. On the next round, however, he missed the mark, while the three Mexicans still in the contest all scored.
“You see,” said the tall Mexican, “we can easily, if we will, prevent you Gringoes from scoring at our national games.”
“By fair means?” replied Jack.
“By any means, senor,” was the reply, “all is fair in love and war.”
“Guess I’ll keep an eye on you,” thought Jack to himself.
With varying fortunes the game went on till two rounds from the concluding one only Jack and two Mexicans were left in the game. Walt and Ralph had dropped out in favor of Jack when they saw that they were too far behind to catch up. The scores of all three, the Mexicans and the Border Boy, were now even, and the excitement was extreme. No cheers or any other sounds were to be heard now. In intense silence the crowd watched every move.