They were three to torment the life out of her, he and Erminia and Lucilla, two aunts of his--all affiliated to the devil.

And now he has robbed me of my last mule.

You are an armed man.
Demand the _macho_ from him, with a pistol to his head, senor--it is not his, I tell you--and ride after your man who is so precious to you.

And then you shall both be safe, for no two travellers have been ever known to disappear together in these days.

As to the beast, I, its owner, I confide it to your honour." They were staring hard at each other, and Byrne nearly burst into a laugh at the ingenuity and transparency of the little man's plot to regain possession of his mule.