“I pay fifty; fifty against twenty for the lásak!”
The brothers looked at each other discontentedly.
“I told you not to risk all the money,” said the elder. “If you had listened to me——”
The younger approached José and timidly touched his arm.
“What! It’s you?” he cried, turning and feigning surprise. “Does your brother accept my proposition?”
“He won’t do it. But if you would lend us something, as you say you know us——”
José shook his head, shifted his position, and replied:
“Yes, I know you; you are Társilo and Bruno; and I know that your valiant father died from the club strokes of these soldiers. I know you don’t think of vengeance——”
“Don’t concern yourself with our history,” said the elder brother, joining them; “that brings misfortune. If we hadn’t a sister, we should have been hanged long ago!”
“Hanged! Only cowards are hanged. Besides, the mountain isn’t so far.”