Gasbang and Pittikin added: “Certainly, we understand him very well.”
“Of course we do,” said Darrell and others.
“You are very kind,” said the Don, smiling, “and I will try to be brief, and not detain you long.”
“We have all the afternoon,” said Hughes.
“That's so, we ain't in a hurry,” said several.
“Only let us out in time to bring the milch cows home, before night comes on,” said old Miller, dryly.
“Exactly, we want to look after our cows, too,” said the Don, laughing.
All saw the fine irony of the rejoinder, and laughed heartily. Miller scratched his ear, as if he had felt the retort there, knowing well, that with the exception of Mathews and Gasbang, he had killed and “corraled” more of the Don's cattle than any other settler.
“Speaking about cows, brings us at once to the object of this meeting,”—Don Mariano, still smiling, went on, saying: “You know that I have lost many, and that it is natural I should wish to save those I have left. To do this, and yet not ask that you give up your claims, I have one or two propositions to make to you. The reason why you have taken up land here is because you want homes. You want to make money. Isn't that the reason? Money! money!”
“That's it, exactly,” said many voices, and all laughed.