"You are a great man, and you know how to do things." "Well, for simple faith you're the limit, Nicolas, my boy.

For one thing, though, it strikes me that our getting over the border, which is some hundreds of miles away, might be hindered if we have the tough luck to run into any of Gato's armed pals along this route." "You do well to remind me, senor!" cried Nicolas, in a low tone, but one, nevertheless, which was full of self-reproach.

"So much have I enjoyed my talk with you that I have been forgetting to look after your safety.

Pardon me, senor.

I will vanish, but I shall watch over you with the wide-open eyes of the panther." In another instant Nicolas had vanished from the trail.