Chapter 14

           Hadtheirguideheldtheprairiesincompletecontrol—itsdenizenssubjecttohissecretwill—responsibletotimeandplace—hecouldnothaveconductedtheexcursioniststoaspotmorelikelytofurnishthesportthathadsummonedthemforth.

           JustasthesparklingJohannisberger—obtainedfromtheGermanwine-storesofSanAntonio—hadimpartedabrighterbluetothesky,andamorevividgreentothegrass,thecry"Musteños!"washeardabovethehumofconversation,interruptingthehalf-spokensentiment,withthepealofmerrylaughter.ItcamefromaMexicanvaquero,whohadbeenstationedasavidetteonaneminencenearathand.

           Maurice—atthemomentpartakingofthehospitalityofhisemployers,freelyextendedtohim—suddenlyquaffedoffthecup;andspringingtohissaddle,criedout—

           "Cavallada?"

           "No,"answeredtheMexican;"manada."

           "Whatdothefellowsmeanbytheirgibberish?"inquiredCaptainCalhoun.

           "MusteñosisonlytheMexicanformustangs,"repliedthemajor;"andby‘manada’hemeanstheyarewildmares—adroveofthem.Atthisseasontheyherdtogether,andkeepapartfromthehorses;unlesswhen—"

           "Whenwhat?"impatientlyaskedtheex-officerofvolunteers,interruptingtheexplanation.

           "Whentheyareattackedbyasses,"innocentlyansweredthemajor.

           Ageneralpealoflaughterrendereddoubtfulthenaïvétéofthemajor’sresponse—impartingtoitthesuspicionofapersonalitynotintended.