“I know; I told Jack we’d have to keep away from town or the mine for a while.  He wanted to go right back and finish up the fight!” Dade grinned at the absurdity.  “I sat down hard on that proposition.”  Not that phrase, exactly, did he use.  One may be pardoned a free translation, since, though he spoke in excellent Spanish, he did not twist his sentences like a native, and he was not averse to making use of certain idioms quite as striking in their way as our own Americanisms.

Don Andres rolled a cigarette and smoked it thoughtfully.  “You were wise.  Also, I bear in mind your statement that you could not long be content to remain my guest.  Terribly independent and energetic are you Americanos.”  He smoked through another pause, while Dade’s puzzled glance dwelt secretly upon his face and tried to read what lay in his mind.  It seemed to him that the don was working his way carefully up to a polite hint that the visit might be agreeably terminated; and his uneasy thoughts went to the girl.  Did her father resent—­

“My majordomo,” the don continued, just in time to hold back Dade’s hasty assurance that they would leave immediately, “my majordomo does not please me.  Many faults might I name, sufficient to make plain my need for another.”  A longer wait, as if time were indeed infinite, and he owned it all.  “Also I might name reasons for my choice of another, who is yourself, Senor Hunter.  Perhaps in you I recognize simply the qualities which I desire my majordomo to possess.  Perhaps also I desire that some prejudiced countrymen of mine shall be taught a lesson and made to see that not all Americanos are unworthy.  However that may be, I shall be truly glad if you will accept.  The salary we will arrange as pleases you, and your friend will, I hope, remain in whatever capacity you may desire.  Further, when your government has given some legal assurance that my land is mine,” he smiled wrily at the necessity for such assurance, “as much land as you Americanos call a ‘section,’ choose it where you will—­except that it shall not take my house or my cultivated land—­shall be yours for the taking.”

“But—­”

“Not so much the offer of a position would I have you consider it,” interrupted the other with the first hint of haste he had shown, “as a favor that I would ask.  Times are changing, and we natives are high-chested and must learn to make room for others who are coming amongst us.  To speak praises to the face of a friend is not my habit, yet I will say that I would teach my people to respect good men, whatever the race; and especially Americanos, who will be our neighbors henceforth.  I shall be greatly pleased when you tell me that you will be my majordomo; more than ever one needs a man of intelligence and tact—­”