Amicable Relations 



and clothes, and pistols in a heap, over which one was to 

 mount guard, while the other bathed. 



As Harry was undressing, our friends of the late transac- 

 tion came back with a large herd of goats — for they were 

 cahreros — to go over the bridge at the dam. The principal 

 thief looked rather ashamed of himself, and said — I suppose, 

 by way of excuse, — 



" If it had not been for me, you would never have found 

 your pistol." 



" If it had not been for you, I should never have had any 

 chance of losing it, that 1 know of. As it is, I feel more 

 obliged to my good luck and the other pistol (patting the 

 revolver's butt) than to you." 



" That is truly a formidable weapon ; how many barrels 

 may it have ? " 



"Seis tiros, bien cuentados ; salen uno tras otro ; y 

 dichoso es Vmd. que no tuve precision de matar a Vmd. o 

 media docena tales." ^ He also admired our other arms, 

 knives, daggers, &c. ; and pointing to the pistol he had 

 lately had in his possession, with a lingering sentiment of 

 affection, he said, ^^ Buena boca t'tene aquella" (She has a 

 pretty mouth). It had a very large bore for so small a 

 pistol, carrying a ball of about ten to the pound. As he 

 went away on the other side of the river (we having 

 enjoined them to betake themselves to a decent distance 

 while we bathed), he said, in a contrite manner, — 



" Perdonad me^ homhre ! " which, being freely translated, 

 means, " Pardon me, that's a good fellow." " Ta le U 

 perdonado'' (already I have pardoned you), I replied, and 

 we saw no more of him. 



' Six barrels, well counted ; they go off one after another ; and 

 happy is your worship that I had not occasion to slay your worship, 

 or half a dozen such. 



268 



