“There’s no trouble about that, sir.  We found him.  Pedro and Raoul can make sure.”  The sons of Ricardo Guzman stepped forward promptly, and Law waved them toward the boat landing, where the two helpers were waiting with Ricardo’s remains.

Despite the Ranger captain’s easy assumption of command, the strain of the situation had not subsided, and Longorio drew swift attention to himself when he said: 

“It is fortunate that I chanced to learn of this matter.  You have done me a great service, Senor Law, for I came to Romero purposely to examine into the death of this unfortunate man.  But I could learn nothing; nobody knew anything whatever about the matter, and so I became convinced that it amounted to little.  Now—­behold!  I discover that I was deceived.  Or—­perhaps there still may be a mistake.”

Blaze Jones thrust his daughter aside and advanced toward the speaker.  “There’s no mistake,” he declared, belligerently.  “I don’t make mistakes when I go grave-robbin’.  Don Ricardo was shot by your men.  He had five thousand dollars on him, or he should have had, and he was an American citizen.  Your Colonel Blanco covered the body, but he’ll have a hell of a job coverin’ the facts.  It’s time we came to a showdown with your murderin’ outfit, and I aim to see if we’ve got a government in this country.”

“Heaven guided my hand,” devoutly breathed the general.  “It is regrettable that you used this means when a word to me would have served the purpose, for—­it is no trivial matter to desecrate a Mexican graveyard.  My country, too, has a government.  An officer of the State of Texas, under arms, has crossed the Rio Grande.  What does that mean?”

Captain Evans had a sense of humor; Longorio’s ominous words amused him.  “Say, general, it ain’t the first time,” he chortled.  “And you’re an officer, too, ain’t you?  You’re in Texas at this minute, and I’ll bet if I frisked you I’d find that you was under arms.”  The Mexican understood English sufficiently well to grasp the significance of these words.  After a moment’s consideration, therefore, he modified his threatening tone.

“But my mission was friendly.  I had no criminal purpose,” he said, mildly.  “However—­perhaps one offense condones the other.  At any rate, we must have no international complications.  There is a more practical side to the matter:  if Don Ricardo Guzman met his death in Mexico there will be a rigid investigation, I assure you.”

Evans agreed.  “That’s fair!  And I’ll make a bargain with you:  you keep still and so’ll we.  We never aimed for this affair to get out, anyhow.  I reckon these men”—­he indicated Lewis and his followers—­“ain’t liable to talk much.”

The two Guzman boys, greatly moved, returned to announce that they had indeed identified their father’s body, and Longorio could not well refuse to accept their evidence.

“Very well,” said he.  “I am indebted to you.  Since there is nothing more to be said, apparently, I will return to Romero.”  With a bow to Mrs. Austin, who had silently watched the play of these opposing motives, he turned away, and Tad Lewis followed him.