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Chapter 5
Ishuddered.Hehadveryfiercewhiskers,DonCarlos,andashedidnotoffertogoonwedarednotmove.Atlast,blowingthesmokeofmycigarintotheairthroughhisnostrils,hesaid,‘Senor,itwouldbeperhapsbetterforyouifIrodebehindyourparty.YouarenotveryfarfromSulaconow.GoyouwithGod.’Whatwouldyou?Wewenton.Therewasnoresistinghim.HemighthavebeenHernandezhimself;thoughmyservant,whohasbeenmanytimestoSulacobysea,assuredmethathehadrecognizedhimverywellfortheCapatazoftheSteamshipCompany’sCargadores.Later,thatsameevening,IsawthatverymanatthecornerofthePlazatalkingtoagirl,aMorenita,whostoodbythestirrupwithherhandonthegreyhorse’smane.”
“Iassureyou,SenorHirsch,”murmuredCharlesGould,“thatyourannoriskonthisoccasion.”
“Thatmaybe,senor,thoughItrembleyet.Amostfierceman—tolookat.Andwhatdoesitmean?ApersonemployedbytheSteamshipCompanytalkingwithsalteadores—noless,senor;theotherhorsemenweresalteadores—inalonelyplace,andbehavinglikearobberhimself!Acigarisnothing,butwhatwastheretopreventhimaskingmeformypurse?”
“No,no,SenorHirsch,”CharlesGouldmurmured,lettinghisglancestrayawayalittlevacantlyfromtheroundface,withitshookedbeakupturnedtowardshiminanalmostchildlikeappeal.“IfitwastheCapatazdeCargadoresyoumet—andthereisnodoubt,isthere?—youwereperfectlysafe.