"Manuel is fat, and he is not young, and he will not ride too fast for his fat to endure.
Also he will stop at the Pacheco hacienda for breakfast, and to rest his bones.

Me, I can be at the rancho two hours before Manuel, Senor." Valencia was not a deceitful young man, as deceit goes; but he wanted very much to be sent in haste to the ranch, for he was itching with curiosity to know the truth of this matter and if he were indeed right.
If Manuel had gone bearing a challenge from Jose to the Senor Jack, then he wanted to know the answer as soon as possible.

Also there was Felice, the daughter of Carlos, whose lips lured him with their sweetness.
Truly, Valencia would promise any miracle of speed.
The pool lay calm as the face of a dead child.

Dade stooped and tossed a pebble into it as if that stillness troubled him.

He took his cigarette from his lips, looked at the glowing tip, and over it at the eager face of Valencia.
"We mustn't let them fight.