If it needed a counter-shock to jolt his faculties back into place, he had it, and it was I who provided it.
In order to give the pair an opportunity to get used to their new relationship, I was about to ride forward to join Pedro, when I saw the Mexican suddenly commence cutting up all sorts of queer antics, jumping about and waving his arms in a frantic manner.
"What's the matter with Pedro?" I called out. "Look there, you fellows! What's the matter with Pedro?"
"Something wrong!" cried Dick. "Get up!"
Away we went at a gallop, keeping a sharp lookout in all directions lest those three men should bob up again from somewhere, while the Mexican himself, jumping upon his burro, rode down to meet us.
"What's up, Pedro?" Dick shouted, as soon as we had come within hearing. "Anything the matter?"
"Señores," cried Pedro, speaking with eager rapidity, "those men come hunting us. I watch them ride back almost to the Casa, and then of a sudden they change their minds and turn up into the mountain. They think to catch us, but"—he stretched out his great hand and shut it tight, his black eyes gleaming with excitement—"if the señores will give me leave, we will catch them!"
If his surmise was right, if those men were indeed coming after us as he believed, there was no question that if any of us could beat them at that game, Pedro was the one. Dick was a fine woodsman, but Pedro was a finer—my partner himself would have been the first to acknowledge it—and it was Dick in fact who promptly replied:
"Go ahead, Pedro! You're captain to-day! Take the lead; we'll follow!"
"'Sta bueno!" cried the Mexican, greatly pleased. "Come, then!"