“Mexican or Indian or whatever he is, he can squeeze money out of nothing, like a Jew,” Stevenson complained.  “Look how much he has made out of this ranch; look at what he has made out of me!  And it’s just that way with everything he holds.  The Mexicans all around this section sell him their stuff cheap and take what he pays, because they don’t know any better and because he’s their leader.  He has the big store at Bartolo, which you’ve seen, and owns the bank there, and has any number of farms up and down the Pinas River, and runs I don’t know how many bands of sheep; and besides, he elects the county officers, and fixes the taxes to suit himself, and recommends the water inspector for this district, and—­and—­well, what chance has an ordinary man to get ahead here?”

Lee Bryant let a pause ensue.  He rolled a cigarette and struck a light and carefully got the tobacco to burning.

“You say you’re going to let the ranch go back to Menocal,” he stated, abruptly.  “You’ve made up your mind that you won’t keep it, anyway.  All right.  Now I’ve a proposition to make you.”

Stevenson looked at him with curiosity.

“A proposition?  What is it?” he asked.

“It’s this:  I’ve a farm of eighty acres in Nebraska that I’ll trade you for it.  I could offer you less, but I won’t; you have an equity here of value, and I’m not the kind of man to beat you down to nothing.  If we deal, you shall have something in return for your interest.  This eighty of mine is worth a hundred dollars an acre—­eight thousand; it’s mortgaged for five thousand, which leaves an equity of three thousand; on it are good buildings and it’s rented until next March.  You could then take possession.  It’s a good farm, and with the money you’ll have from the sale of your sheep you can make a good start on the place, which is in the corn and wheat section.  My equity of three thousand isn’t worth, to be sure, anything like what you paid Menocal for this ranch, but it’s something—­and all that I can afford to give.”

The rancher stared at Lee as if he could not credit his ears.

“Are you in earnest?” he demanded, at last.  “Why I’ve just told you there’s no water here.  A man can’t make a living on the place, and the mortgage is due next week.”

“I’ll pay off the mortgage; I’ve enough money saved up to do that.”

“But, man, without water——­”

“Listen, Stevenson, I know exactly what I’m about,” the engineer interrupted.  “This thing’s a gamble with me, I admit, but you needn’t do any worrying on that score.  I’m going in with my eyes open; I know the risks and am willing to take them.  What about my offer?”

Stevenson, still gazing at his visitor in wonderment, was at a loss; he rubbed his knuckles doubtfully, hitched about on his chair and knit his brows, perplexed, hesitating, as was his manner when presented with any new affair, even with one palpably to his advantage.  It was clear that in this lack of quick decision lay much of the reason for his failure.