Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/252

 Ben Evans. I have not many days to wait. Then I see him run a cow into the arroyo. I tie my horse and crawl up where I can look. He haf the cow roped and throwed. It haf the L.X. brand, and I stay till I see him burn the brand with a piece of wire. Then I hurry away—queeick!"

"Why didn't you stop him, Ospino?"

The Mexican shrugged his shoulder.

"I am not prepare to die, señor."

"I can believe that," Bob observed. "And you are sure—very, very sure that you saw the L.X. brand?"

"Ver', ver' sure," replied the Mexican positively.

"How far off were you, Ospino?"

Instinctively the Mexican's eyes sought Spiser's and that person gave him a warning look.

"I t'ink one hundred yard, maybe."

"Did you ever work with a surveying party?"

The casual question brought a startled look into the Mexican's eyes, and again they sought the rear of the room as though for advice. He stammered finally: