I thought you said--" "Senor, the saints would not permit that I should arrive first," Valencia explained virtuously.

"A stick tripped Noches and he fell, and broke his neck in the fall.

The senor knows well the saints had a hand in that, for hundreds of horses fall every day thus without hurt.

Never before in my life have I seen a horse die thus, Senor! I was compelled to walk and carry the saddle, yet such haste I made that Manuel met me by the stone wall as he was leaving.

And at least twelve miles I walked--" "Oh, all right," Dade waved away further apology.