"She is my girl. You promised me her freedom. I warn you--"

"Eh?" The planter swayed forward and with blazing eyes surveyed
his slave. Esteban knew that he had done a foul thing in risking
the girl upon the turn of a card, and an inner voice warned him
that he would repent his action when he became sober, but in his
present mood this very knowledge enraged him the more. "You warn
me? Of what?" he growled.

At this moment neither master nor man knew exactly what he said or
did. Sebastian raised his hand on high. In reality the gesture was
meant to call Heaven as a witness to his years of faithful
service, but, misconstruing his intent, Pablo Peza brought his
riding-whip down across the old man's back, crying:

"Ho! None of that."

A shudder ran through Sebastian's frame. Whirling, he seized Don
Pablo's wrist and tore the whip from his fingers. Although the
Spaniard was a strong man, he uttered a cry of pain.

At this indignity to a guest Esteban flew into a fury. "Pancho!"
he cried. "Ho! Pancho!" When the manager came running, Esteban
explained: "This fool is dangerous. He raised his hand to me and
to Don Pablo."

Sebastian's protests were drowned by the angry voices of the
others.

"Tie him to yonder grating," directed Esteban, who was still in