“There are no means in your power to make me see things differently,” she said, “yours or anybody else’s.”

“So!” he said slowly, and flicked the ashes from his cigarette with a hand which trembled slightly.  “But all my cards are not played yet.  You think that everything shall go your way, but that is not life; no, that is not life.  Since you have none of the feelings of respect and obedience which a child should have for a parent, it shall be a game between us.  Now, at once, I will play my trump card.”  There was a grim and saturnine triumph in his voice.  “Jose!”

She started and looked at him askance, puzzled and yet fearful.  “Jose!” she repeated uncertainly.

“Yes, Jose.  Jose has been useful to you, and Jose has spent all his time with you and him.”  He nodded his head in the direction of the inner room.  “I have warned him.”  There was a quiver of passion and resentment in his voice.  “I have pointed out to him again and again the risks that he was running not only for himself, but me.  Yet for me—­me who has befriended him at the risk of my own life, who has kept him in my cabin for many months, he has no thought, no gratitude.  That all goes to Seagreave, Seagreave who stole you and who now lies strapped in his bed unable to help you or Jose or any one else.  Well, let Seagreave save him now.  And how?” his harsh, mirthless laughter rang out.  “Yes, how?  Does Seagreave know the secret trails over the mountains?  Not he.  Then how is our dear Jose to escape?  Will you engage to get him safely out of Colina on a railroad train?  I think not.  Remember there is a big price on his head.”

Pearl had shrunk back from him while he was speaking, both horror and fright on her face.  “But you can’t do that for your own sake,” she cried.  “It will then be known that you have kept Jose all these months, and that it was he who escaped the night I danced.  Do you think the sheriff will forgive you that you lied to him and fooled him?  I guess not.  And then you sheltered Jose and hid him after that.  On your own account you can’t let him be taken.”

Gallito smiled in unpleasant triumph.  “If I should turn state’s evidence for so notorious a criminal as Crop-eared Jose I should certainly get immunity myself.  I was weak, yes, in my unfortunate desire to reform a fellow countryman, but finding all my efforts hopeless, I at last saw my duty and gave him up.”

For the moment fear almost overcame Pearl, and then her high spirit flared.  “And you would give poor Jose up,” she said.  “I would never have believed it, and yet I see you really would do it, just to have me obey your will.  But you can’t do it, and you won’t do it.  I tell you now, if you even dare threaten such a thing, I will send for the sheriff and I will tell him the whole story.  I will let him know what you are.  And more, too”—­she made quick steps toward him—­“I will have you arrested for assaulting Harry.”