“What’s pesterin’ the ole feller?  Pears like he’s gittin’ his tongue twisted up ready to talk—­if they call it talkin’.”

“What is the hombre saying?—­” asked the don at that moment, seeing the glance and sensing that at last his presence was noticed.

Dade grinned and winked at Jack, who, by the way, was neither looking nor listening; for Teresita was once more tenderly ridiculing his star-incrusted saddle and so claimed his whole attention.

“He says Jose Pacheco and some others came and ordered him off.  They were pretty ugly, but he called out a lady—­the Senora Jemima and dos ninos—­and—­”

“Sa-ay, mister,” interrupted the giant Jerry Simpson from the load of logs.  “D’you say Senory Jemimy?”

“Why, yes.  Senora means madame, or—­”

“Ya’as, I know what it means.  Jemimy, mister, ain’t no senory, nor no madame.  Jemimy’s my old Kentucky rifle, mister.  And the twins ain’t no neenos, but a brace uh pistols that can shoot fur as it’s respectable fer a pistol to shoot, and hit all it’s lawful to hit.  You tell him who Jemimy is, mister; and tell ’im she’s a derned good talker, and most convincin’ in a argyment.”

“He says Jemima is not a senora,” translated Dade, his eyes twinkling, “but his rifle; and the ninos are his pistols.”

Don Andres hid a smile under his white mustache.  “Very good.  Yet I think your language must lack expression, Senor Hunter.  It required much speech to say so little.”  There was a twinkle in his own eyes.  “Also, Jose acts like a fool.  You may tell the big senor that the land is mine, but that I do not desire to use harsh methods, nor have ill-feeling between us.  It is my wish to live in harmony with all men; my choice of a majordomo should bear witness that I look upon Americanos with a friendly eye.  I think the big hombre is honest and intelligent; his face rather pleases me.  So you may tell him that Jose shall not trouble him again, and that I shall not dispute with him about his remaining here, if to remain should be his purpose when he knows the land belongs to me.  But I shall look upon him as a guest.  As a guest, he will be welcome until such time as he may find some free land upon which to build his casa.”

Because the speech was kindly and just, and because he was in the service of the don, Dade translated as nearly verbatim as the two languages would permit.  And Jerry Simpson, while he listened, gave several hard pulls with his lips upon the short stem of his pipe, discovered that there was no fire there, straightened his long leg and felt gropingly for a match in the depth of a great pocket in his trousers.  His eyes, of that indeterminate color which may be either gray, hazel, or green, as the light and his mood may affect them, measured the don calmly, dispassionately, unawed; measured also Dade and the beautiful white horse he rode; and finally went twinkling over Jack and the girl, standing a little apart, wholly absorbed in trivialities that could interest no one save themselves.