It was almost bedtime when they
arrived, and the family was much surprised to see them at that
hour.
"Well, I swanny!" ejaculated Mr. Hammond, "is this the best you
girls could pick up-a Greaser? Do you call him a treasure?"
The prisoner's eyes flashed again as he heard this. He stood by
sourly enough while the girls explained more fully to the ranchman.
"All right! All right!" growled Mr. Hammond. "If he is one of those
that stampeded the steers, he'll see the inside of the jail. I'd
like to catch 'em all."
The visitors made their way to bed as soon as they had eaten their
late supper; but Rhoda remained with her father when he questioned
the Mexican.
At first the prisoner refused to give any information about himself
or his business near Rose Ranch. But being an old hand at that
game, Mr. Hammond finally made him see that it would be wiser for
him to reply. If he did not wish to get others into trouble, he
would better try to save himself.
And it soon appeared that the young Mexican did not feel altogether
kindly toward the men who had come over the Border with
him--whoever they were. There had been some quarrel, and the others
had abandoned him, taking even his horse with them when they did so.
"Were you with them when they ran off the Long Bow stock?" asked
Mr. Hammond.
"That was not done by us. We separated from those thieves of
horse-stealers when they would put their necks in jeopardy," the
Mexican said in his own tongue, which both Mr.
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