Begone, you rascal!" Nor did Nicolas linger.

From the outset he had been badly scared, though he had been truthful in assuring Tom Reade that a bandit would hardly hurt a poor _peon_.
When Nicolas at last reached the young engineers he delivered the message that Pedro Gato had regarded the whole matter as insolence, and had been very angry.
"Gato added," continued Nicolas, "that he would shoot at you when and where he pleased.

And he will do it.

He is a ferocious fellow." "Humph!" muttered Tom.

"If your feet don't mind, my good Nicolas, I have a good mind to send Gato another and much shorter note.
Is it far to go!" "N-not very far," said Nicolas, though he began to quake.
"Of course, I shall pay you well for this and all the other trouble you are taking on my account," Tom continued, gently.
"I am finely paid by being allowed to serve you at all, Senor Reade," Nicolas protested..