“Ho, ho!” he laughed loudly.  “Self-defense, my girl, self-defense.  Who could prove anything else?  Who would take your word under the circumstances?”

“But I will tell more, much more,” she cried, all aflame now.  “I will tell of all the cut-throats and thieves you have sheltered in your cabin from time to time.  I know their names and I will prove what I say.  I will show them the chamber in the mine where Jose is hiding.  What will they think of that?  You have a high standing in Colina and in other places.  You are respected.  Are you willing to give all that up just so you can force me to sign with Sweeney?  I don’t believe it, I won’t believe it.  But as sure as you don’t help Jose to escape, so sure will I do what I say.  Oh,” she stopped suddenly, a sob in her voice, “oh, here comes Bob, Bob and Hughie!” For the first time she left the doorway in which she had remained protectingly, and ran forward to meet the two who were rapidly mounting the hill.

“Oh, Bob!” she cried.  “Oh, Hughie!  I knew you two wouldn’t go back on me.  I knew you’d come sooner or later, both of you.”

Hughie clung to her, one arm around her, and Flick’s hard and impassive face softened a little as he gazed at her.  “Why, Pearl, what’s the matter?” he asked.  “You look pale, and tears!  Why, that ain’t a mite like you!  Has he been cutting up rough,” he glanced toward her father, “and worrying you?”

“Why didn’t you come before?” She lifted her shadowed eyes to his.

He winced a little, his mouth twisting slightly.  “Ain’t it enough that I’ve come now?” Something in his voice conveyed even to her who had so long taken his unwearying devotion without question and as a matter of course what it had cost him to seek her again.

They had drawn near the cabin by this time and Flick looked at Gallito’s frowning face a moment.  “Are you needing me, Pearl?” His drawling voice was as lazily indifferent as ever, but his glance held an intimation of danger for Gallito which the old man did not fail to understand.

“Maybe,” Pearl replied in a low voice.  “You ’most always come when I need you, Bob.”

“I guess your interference ain’t needed now, Flick,” began Gallito.  “I can—­”

Hughie ran his hand caressingly down the old Spaniard’s sleeve.  “No need to tell old Bob that we’re a united family, Pop,” he cried.  “Why I’m already composing a wedding march.”  He caught his adopted father’s hand in his.

At this mute expression of affection from the being who was nearest his heart Gallito’s face softened a little, although he gazed back at Bob Flick with a baffled and still scornful smile.

“Well,” he said reluctantly, “it ain’t often I confess I’m beat, but I guess I’m too old to stand both Hughie and the girl taking sides against me, not to speak of you, Flick, and I know if it came to a choice between me and those two where you’d stand.”

“There ain’t going to be any sides taken,” said Flick.  “We are going to give in and take what’s coming to us, Gallito, like sensible men, whether we like it or not.  When’s the wedding, Pearl?”