“Sure, Mike, Seguro Miguel—Fire away!” answered Benson.
The ranchman looked puzzled, then commenced to explain his errand. His ranch, it appeared, was situated some twenty miles outside the town, in the direction from which the Yaquis were expected, and his ranchmen were all absent upon the range. He asked for five or six men to defend his hacienda:
Benson waved his hand airily, in feeble imitation of the Mexican’s grand manner: “’Sta ’ueno, you shall have them.”
Turning, he saw Loring, who had been listening to the talk. Benson was accustomed to judging men quickly, and he was rarely deceived. A quick survey of Loring’s face satisfied him.
“He is no quitter, anyhow,” he thought, “and at present his moral character don’t matter.” He called to Loring: “Say, you Mr. What’s-your-name, you get four other men and go with this chap to his ranch!”
“Have you caballos for them here?” Benson asked the ranchman.
“Sí, sí, I can procure them at once,” exclaimed Señor Hernandez. “And my gratitude, it is eternal.”
“Never mind that,” said Benson, turning away.