break camp--and sure cook the frijoles. Pop learned me all that; but
he was payin' me a dollar a week. He said I was jest as good as a man.
A dollar a week ain't much."

The old herder shook his head. "Not until I sell the wool can I pay."

"When do you sell that wool?"

"When the pay for it is good. Sometimes I wait."

"Well, I kin see where I don't get rich herdin' sheep."

"We shall see. Perhaps, if you are a good boy--"

"You got me wrong, señor. Roth he said I was the limit--and even my
old pop said I was a tough kid. I ain't doin' this for my health. I
hooked up with you 'cause I kinda thought--"

"Si?"

"Well, Roth was tellin' as how you could make a six-gun smoke faster
than most any hombre a-livin'. Now, I was figurin' if you would show
me how to work this ole smoke-wagon here"--and Pete touched the huge
lump beneath his shirt--"why, that would kinda be like wages--but I
ain't got no money to buy cartridges."

"I, José de la Crux Montoya, will show you how to work him. It is a
big gun for such a chico."

"Oh, I reckon I kin hold her down. When do we start the shootin'