"Did he succeed?"

"No'm. He killed 'em, but they stayed."

"Not--really?" The listener was shocked. "American citizens, too?"

"Times wasn't much different then than now. There's plenty of good
Americans been killed in Mexico and nothing done about it, even in
our day. I don't know all the details--never could get 'em,
either--for I was away at school; but after I came back from the
Philippines the Madero fuss was just brewing, so I went over and
joined it. But it didn't last long, and there wasn't enough
fighting to suit me. I've been back, off and on, since, and I've
burned a good deal of Guadalupe property and swum a good many head
of Guadalupe stock."

As the morning progressed Law proved himself an interesting
companion, and in spite of the discomforts of the situation the
hours slipped past rapidly. Luncheon was a disagreeable meal,
eaten while the arroyo baked and the heat devils danced on the
hills; but the unpleasantness was of brief duration, and Law
always managed to banish boredom. Nor did he seem to waste a
thought upon the nature of that grim business which brought him to
this place. Quite the contrary, in the afternoon he put his mare
through her tricks for Alaire's edification, and gossiped idly of
whatever interested his guest.

Then as the sun edged to the west and Mrs. Austin became restless,
he saddled Bessie Belle and led her down the gulch into a safer
covert.