"We found those insolent Gringoes," said one of the men, "coming straight for the Senor's house. We undertook to stop them."
"Senor," said Jim, bowing low and speaking in his best Spanish, "we are sorry, my brother and I, to have caused this disturbance. We are strangers and unfortunate, and we have heard of your hospitality, Senor"—Jim bowed again. He was not so simple, after all.
The Senor Sebastian returned the bow with more grace than Jim could command.
"I regret, Senor—" he hesitated.
"Darlington," added Jim.
"Senor Darlington, that you have been attacked in this manner, but there has been a party of desperadoes that have been overrunning this part of the country for the past two days, and they took one of my men and bound and gagged him and so you see, Senors," a smile and bow completed the Spanish gentleman's apology perfectly.
"We have just escaped, not more than an hour ago, from these same desperadoes," said Jim. "They have taken my brother and friend with them towards the coast."
"We will saddle and overtake them," promised the Senor, "after we have had breakfast."
Jim was stunned by this gentle sort of procrastination.
"But, Senor," he said gravely, "we will not be able to overtake them if we do not start immediately. Pardon my abruptness, but I cannot rest while there are two of my party prisoners in the hands of this gang of cut-throats."