Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/183

Rh ate by which he passed, and calling to the captain by name, (for the robbers were headed by a noted chieftain) requested to know what he wanted at that hour of the night. The captain politely begged him to come down stairs and he would tell him; but the agent, strong in the possession of his great keys, and well knowing the solidity of the iron-barred windows, continued his parley in a high tone. The captain rode round, examined everything with a practised eye, and found that it would require a regular siege to make good his entry. He threatened, entreated, observed that he would be content with a small sum of money; but all in vain. There stood the sturdy administrador on the house-top, and there sat the captain on his horse below, something like the fox and the crow; but the agent with the keys was wiser than the crow with her cheese, for no cajoling would induce him to let them out of his grasp; and worse than all, shooting him would have done them no good. At last the captain, finding himself entirely outwitted, took off his hat, politely wished the agent a very good night, drew off his men and departed.

Another time, being also alone, he was attacked in broad day-light by two men who came under pretence of buying pulque; but having time to get hold of a sword, he overpowered one, which frightened the other, upon which they both began to laugh, and assured him it was mere experiment to see what he would do—a perfect jest, which he pretended to believe, but advised them not to try it again, as it was too good a joke to be repeated. Señor