152“Ah,” said he, “the good friends of our Capitan Sutter! This is to be well met. If it is not too much I would beg the favour of to camp.”
“By all means, Don Gaspar,” said Johnny rising. “The pleasure is of course our own.”
Again saluting us, Don Gaspar and his companion withdrew a short distance up the little meadow. There the Spaniard sat down beneath a bush and proceeded to smoke a cigaretto, while his companion unsaddled the horses, turned them loose to graze, stacked up their saddles, and made simple camping arrangements.
“Old Plush Pants doesn’t intend to do any work if he catches sight of it first,” observed Johnny.
“Probably the other man is a servant?” I suggested.
“More likely a sort of dependent,” amended Johnny. “They run a kind of patriarchal establishment, I’ve been told.”
“Don’t use them big words, Johnny,” complained Yank, coming up with the horses.
“I meant they make the poor relations and kid brothers do the hustling,” said Johnny.
“Now I understand you,” said Yank. “I wish I could see what they do with their hosses nights. I bet they know how. And if I was a hoss thief, I’d surely take a long chance for that chestnut gelding.”
“You might wander over later and find out,” I suggested.