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"I know you are, Billy," replied the other; "but if you're caught you might find it

difficult to convince the authorities of your highmindedness and your

disinterestedness."

"Authorities!" scoffed Billy. "There ain't no authorities in Mexico. One bandit is

just as good as another, and from Pesita to Carranza they're all bandits at heart.

They ain't a one of 'em that gives two whoops in hell for poor, bleedin' Mexico--

unless they can do the bleedin' themselves. It's dog eat dog here. If they caught

me they'd shoot me whether I'd robbed their bank or not. What's that?" Billy was

suddenly alert, straining his eyes back in the direction of Cuivaca.

"They're coming, Billy," said Bridge. "Take my horse--quick! You must get out of

here in a hurry. The whole post is searching for you. I thought that they went

toward the south, though. Some of them must have circled."

What'll you do if I take your horse?" asked Billy.

I can walk back," said Bridge, "it isn't far to town. I'll tell them that I had come

only a short distance when my horse threw me and ran away. They'll believe it for

they think I'm a rotten horseman--the two vaqueros who escorted me to town I

mean."

Billy hesitated. "I hate to do it, Bridge," he said.

"You must, Billy," urged the other.

"If they find us here together it'll merely mean that the two of us will get it, for I'll

stick with you, Billy, and we can't fight off a whole troop of cavalry out here in the

open. If you take my horse we can both get out of it, and later I'll see you in Rio.

Good-bye, Billy, I'm off for town," and Bridge turned and started back along the

road on foot.

Billy watched him in silence for a moment. The truth of Bridge's statement of fact

was so apparent that Billy was forced to accept the plan. A moment later he

transferred the bags of loot to Bridge's pony, swung into the saddle, and took a

last backward look at the diminishing figure of the man swinging along in the

direction of Cuivaca.

"Say," he muttered to himself; "but you're a right one, bo," and wheeling to the

north he clapped his spurs to his new mount and loped easily off into the night.

234

The Mucker