The Wolf Cub

o Quesada, and suddenly his small slate-

signs the meaning?" he asked

N

ire you to understand

handshake. Then he dropped Quesada's hand and stepped back, assuming his old passive pose. And only Quesada knew that there had passed betwe

o consulted with himself for a space. Th

ledge; I am only a poor Moor of Andalusia, you know. But what is the message you wish to convey by y

an laughed ruefully un

he said, "to explain to you the mea

hat disappointed, "You

o subject him to a rough overhauling. The Frenchman grimaced with impotent rage and, narrowin

a pieces, two rings set with diamonds and an emerald scarfpin were taken from him before he was liberated by the searchers. The rings and the scarfpin were

y look of paste imitations. Though but simple Moors, even as they called themselves, the bandoleros were not so ingenuous as to be deceived by them; and t

oster has but a thinly

n he gave him a shove toward the group already plucked and gut

turned away from the bandoleros, his pebbly eyes sparkled with profound relief;

ed Jacinto Quesada, w

maestro. She, with the mouth that is a nest

called Pio Estrada, another of the searchers. Strange, but her youth and beauty and

eyes upon the beautiful golden-haired girl and, for th

gasped. "Wh

ward her a second look, piercing, probing. It was as though he were shocked and ar

no-it is not a resembla

drawn thence by an irresistible infl

icid

ate group; they were sequestered from those not yet searched and made to deliver. No sound came across the everlasting flats but the low incessant chitter of the desert-loving wheatears, little fuzzy fat birds that live among the mimosa and t

uesada's call, of his now devouring gaze. Well, suddenly and all on the

t maids and even Gitanas treated by the bandoleros with a respect and courtesy that amounted almost to reverence; and yet, at

ssengers. Even the bandoleros felt the contagion. Cursing excitedly, two of them started to pursue the golde

ere, you out

off the carbine, the whole hold-up might have ended then and there for the bandoleros in an inglorious headlong rout. The passengers

ted though he was, he sprung toward Perez, tore the carbine from his

eople. Shoot any that break away! And don't mind

their carbines sweeping the crowd. The imminent danger of sta

pose, he thought, like a frightened doe that cares not where she flees so long as she flees from the huntsmen. H

k, first at her tall blond mustached husband, then at Quesada. Strangely, her glances seemed to have become preposterously mixed. It was a

Hardly had the door of the third-class carriage closed behind the golde

fear from me. And if you had told me that he, the Frenchman, was your husband, I would not have rob

nd flushing, her lip a-quiver. It was not as though she were glad with sudden recognition: it was

grateful to God I was when I first saw you, almost half an hour ago, standing among those ruffianly l

I discovered you and realized that, for our childhood's sake, you would protect me, it took all my courage and strength to flee fro

Jacinto Quesada's brain like exploding, detonating shells. He ree

de Cristo! wha

stand! But all, I shall tell him!"-and

one that was kind to me and even until two hours ago, I thought

eady your husband!

ow, I would not continue on with him;

e beginning. Your words