Back at the ranch the Mexican vaqueros lounged about, grumbling.With no foreman there was nothing to do except talk about their troubles.They had not been paid since the looting of the bank at Cuivaca, for Mr.Harding had been unable to get any silver from elsewhere until a few days since.
He now had assurances that it was on the way to him; but whether or not it would reach El Orobo was a question.
"Why should we stay here when we are not paid?" asked one of them.
"Yes, why?" chorused several others.
"There is nothing to do here," said another."We will go to Cuivaca.I, for one, am tired of working for the gringos."This met with the unqualified approval of all, and a few moments later the men had saddled their ponies and were galloping away in the direction of sun-baked Cuivaca.They sang now, and were happy, for they were as little boys playing hooky from school--not bad men; but rather irresponsible children.
Once in Cuivaca they swooped down upon the drinking-place, where, with what little money a few of them had left they proceeded to get drunk.
Later in the day an old, dried-up Indian entered.He was hot and dusty from a long ride.
"Hey, Jose!" cried one of the vaqueros from El Orobo Rancho; "you old rascal, what are you doing here?"Jose looked around upon them.He knew them all--they represented the Mexican contingent of the riders of El Orobo.
Jose wondered what they were all doing here in Cuivaca at one time.Even upon a pay day it never had been the rule of El Orobo to allow more than four men at a time to come to town.
"Oh, Jose come to buy coffee and tobacco," he replied.He looked about searchingly."Where are the others?" he asked, "--the gringos?""They have ridden after Esteban," explained one of the vaqueros."He has run off with Senorita Harding."Jose raised his eyebrows as though this was all news.
"And Senor Grayson has gone with them?" he asked."He was very fond of the senorita.""Senor Grayson has run away," went on the other speaker.
"The other gringos wished to hang him, for it is said he has bribed Esteban to do this thing."Again Jose raised his eyebrows."Impossible!" he ejaculated.
"And who then guards the ranch?" he asked presently.
"Senor Harding, two Mexican house servants, and a Chinaman,"and the vaquero laughed.
"I must be going," Jose announced after a moment."It is a long ride for an old man from my poor home to Cuivaca, and back again."The vaqueros were paying no further attention to him, and the Indian passed out and sought his pony; but when he had mounted and ridden from town he took a strange direction for one whose path lies to the east, since he turned his pony's head toward the northwest.
Jose had ridden far that day, since Billy had left his humble hut.He had gone to the west to the little rancho of one of Pesita's adherents who had dispatched a boy to carry word to the bandit that his Captain Byrne had escaped the Villistas, and then Jose had ridden into Cuivaca by a circuitous route which brought him up from the east side of the town.
Now he was riding once again for Pesita; but this time he would bear the information himself.He found the chief in camp and after begging tobacco and a cigarette paper the Indian finally reached the purpose of his visit.
"Jose has just come from Cuivaca," he said, "and there he drank with all the Mexican vaqueros of El Orobo Rancho--ALL, my general, you understand.It seems that Esteban has carried off the beautiful senorita of El Orobo Rancho, and the vaqueros tell Jose that ALL the American vaqueros have ridden in search of her--ALL, my general, you understand.In such times of danger it is odd that the gringos should leave El Orobo thus unguarded.Only the rich Senor Harding, two house servants, and a Chinaman remain."A man lay stretched upon his blankets in a tent next to that occupied by Pesita.At the sound of the speaker's voice, low though it was, he raised his head and listened.He heard every word, and a scowl settled upon his brow.Barbara stolen! Mr Harding practically alone upon the ranch! And Pesita in possession of this information!
