He had vowed solemnly to his patron saint that if we
fell into his hands he would put us to death with unheard-of
tortures; and as El Zeres was rather celebrated that way--and it
was the anticipation of an unusual treat which decided the majority
to reserve us--it warn't altogether pleasant to listen to. But we
put a good face on the matter, for it would never have done to let
those Mexican varmints see that two backwoodsmen who had 'fit' them
and beaten them time after time were afraid to die when their time
came. Presently there was a little stir, and Pepita came into the
room. I rather think that, though the girl hated us like pison, she
didn't like to come into the room where one of us was, she thought,
laying dead. Now she came in, looking, I will say for her,
uncommonly pretty. She came straight up to us, and looked us full
in the face. I paid no attention to her, but Rube nodded quite
cheerfully.
"'Well, signora, so you were making fools of us, after all! Well, I
ain't the first chap that's been fooled by a pretty woman; that's
one comfort, anyhow. I suppose our engagement is to be considered
at an end, eh?' and he laughed.
"'American dog!' the girl said, with her eyes flashing with rage,
'did you think you were so good-looking that the women of the
nation you tread upon are all to lose their hearts to you? We are
Mexicans, and we hate you!' and she stamped her foot with passion.
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