The Don broke off in his congratulations abruptly, as a sudden commotion occurred on the outskirts of the crowd. Rising in his stirrups Jack could see that the center of the turmoil was Coyote Pete, and that he was dragging something at the end of his lariat, one end of which was wound around his saddle horn.
Suddenly the crowd rushed in on this object, whatever it was, but the next instant the wave of humanity surged back again, as Coyote drew two pistols and aimed them right and left into the throng.
“The first one that touches the varmint gits a taste of these!” he was shouting, and although few in the crowd could understand the words, they all caught the significance of his tones and fell back. Thus, left with a free path, Coyote spurred his horse on and rode up to where the Don and the Border Boys were assembled. The professor had, by this time, joined the group and brought word that Senorita Alverado wished to be informed at once of Jack’s condition, and if he had been seriously injured. Word was at once despatched to her that he was unharmed.
What Coyote Pete had at the end of his lariat was now at once apparent. It was a human being who struggled to his feet as the cow-puncher drew rein. Covered with dust as the man was, and bleeding from his not over gentle treatment by the first of the crowd who had rushed in on him, Jack yet had no difficulty in recognizing the man as the tall Mexican who had been defeated, and who had declared his intention of shutting out the American boy by fair means or foul.
“What is this?” demanded the Don, as the abject object stood cringing and whining before him.
“This is the pesky critter that fired them shots at Jack Merrill, your Donship!” announced Coyote. “Stand up thar, you dirty dog, and let ’em git a good look at you. Yer see,” he went on, “arter that hat was thrown at Jack, I was on the lookout fer dirty work, so I jest took up my stand near the tilting post, fer I judged thet if thar was truble it ’ud come thar. Wall, I seen this fellow miss and ther look on his face when he realized it. ‘Ole hoss,’ thinks I, ‘I’ll jes’ watch you close.’ Wall, I did, but afore I could stop him he fired them shots. Arter that he sneaked off in the crowd, but I got arter him with my lariat, and I reckon I got him good an’ tight and hog-tied for branding.”
The Don’s face grew black.
“I know this fellow,” he said, “he is a former employee of mine whom I discharged for quarreling and gambling. But this outrage will terminate his career. As a magistrate of this district, I convene court here and sentence him to——”
But with a piercing scream the abject being whom Coyote had lassoed cast himself on the ground. He writhed, he dug at the dirt with his nails, he grovelled and begged in an agony of terror. But the Don was unmoved. It was different with Jack, however. While the fellow’s cowardice disgusted him, at the same time he felt a faint sentiment of pity. At any rate, he did not wish human life taken on his account.
Just then a woman rushed through the crowd holding a child by each hand. Word flew around that it was the would-be assassin’s wife and children. This decided Jack. Pressing his pony forward, he rode to Don Alverado’s side.