“Big words, big words,” laughed Tio Reyes. “Now listen to that which I have to say to you;” and leaning from his saddle in a few concise words he delivered the message of Ramirez, adding a few paternal injunctions as to the conduct Ruiz should in future observe.
“Up to this time nothing is lost,” he continued; “in truth had you acted in good faith, no course could have been better save this last step,—but that may easily be recalled. Ramirez will soon be prepared to attack Gonzales in force; his mind was set on regaining El Toro, but that can be deferred. ‘When the loaf is cut the crumbs may be soon eaten!’ Be you prepared to pass over to your rightful commander at the last moment with all your men. The rest of the troop will follow like sheep. Bah! what is the name of Gonzales to that of Ramirez! With the forces we could then combine, what might we not attempt! I promise you in the name of Ramirez, on his honor as a soldier and his faith as your godfather, a free pardon for all that has passed. Caramba, man! I can’t imagine how you could have been so mad. I have seen the girl who has bewitched you, and by my faith I thought her nothing more than any other brown chit, save that her eyes were darker and bigger than most, and her tongue sharper than a man cares to find between his wife’s lips! What, you hesitate? You believe Ramirez at the bottom of a pit, and the pit dry? Fool! He has treasure you know nothing of; and as for men, did the mountain villages ever fail him?—and you know how many may be counted on here. Caramba, try them! Tell them he has sacked Tres Hermanos.”
“I know it,” said Ruiz, thoughtfully, “and doubtless the booty was great!”
Reyes shrugged his shoulders but did not contradict him, reiterating again and again the assurances of the favor of Ramirez in the event of Ruiz’s acceptance of his proposals, and on the contrary the chief’s determination to wreak an awful vengeance upon his god-child should he prove obdurate and attempt to carry to injurious lengths the treacherous intrigues which he had designed against his benefactor.
Ruiz vehemently denied his guilt, yet hesitated to make promises which, whether kept or broken, might make still more dubious his future position. Reyes read his mind, and at length said coolly,—
“The fact is, you have been bred a servant of Ramirez. When I swore the service of my life to him, yours went with it. You are the one creature in the world he has never met with a frown or given a harsh word to; but do you think he will spare you for that? No; if you should fall into his hands as a traitor, which sooner or later you would be sure to do, you would be shot! Yes, like a dog,—” and the speaker spat on the ground to emphasize his contempt. “But if you are reasonable he will forget all that has passed,—more than I would do in his place I can tell you; ay, he will even give you his daughter.”
“His daughter!” echoed Ruiz with a sneer.
“On my soul, you must be hard to please,” cried his father. “For the girl’s sake I was sorry enough he killed the fool of a gatekeeper five days ago. For all her proud ways, she loved him like a child,—more than she will love Ramirez though he is her father, when she hears of this mad deed.”
Ruiz sprang to his side. “What do you mean?” he cried, seizing his arm. “Is Chinita the daughter of Ramirez? Is she with him? Is she indeed the girl who has been promised to me for these years and years? Por Dios, what would I not do for her? What would I not dare? But I do not believe it. Ramirez knows I love her; this is but a deception. Ah, I know him too well!”
Reyes laughed. “He told me if you were not satisfied you might go and see for yourself. Faith, he had no thought you loved her already. I met him on the road as he came back from leaving her. Does that surprise you? He is a careful father; she is in the house of the Señora’s daughter, Doña Carmen.”