“Suppose, then,” continued the outlaw, “there was a man whom you all held in the highest esteem, but whose life compromised the success of our expedition, what should be done with him?”
“As God lives,” cried Oroche, “I should be happy to find some occasion of sacrificing private interests to the common good.”
“But is there such a man?” inquired Diaz, “and who may he be?”
“It’s a long story,” replied Cuchillo, “and its details concern only myself—but there is such a man.”
“Carajo!” exclaimed Oroche, “that is enough; he should be got rid of as speedily as possible.”
“Is that the advice of all of you?” asked Cuchillo.
“Of course,” answered simultaneously Oroche and Baraja.
Diaz remained silent keeping himself out of this mysterious compromise. After a little, he rose from his seat, and under some pretext left the chamber.
“Well, then, gentlemen,” said Cuchillo, addressing himself to his two more facile comrades, “you are fully of the opinion that the man should be got rid of? Let me tell you, then, that this man is no other than Tiburcio Arellanos.”
“Tiburcio!” exclaimed the two acolytes.