“ Besides,” the voice of Guillermo drifted up, “the water is not two feet deep. You cannot drown me in it. I have just felt the bottom and I have four round silver pesos in my hand right now. The bottom is carpeted with pesos. Do you want to let go? Or do I get ten pesos extra for the filthy job? The water stinks like a fresh graveyard.”
“ Yes! Yes!” they shouted down.
“ Which? Let go? Or the extra ten?”
“ The extra ten!” they chorused.
“ In God’s name, haste! haste!” cried the Jefe.
They heard splashings and curses from the bottom of the well, and, from the lightening of the strain on the riata, knew that Guillermo had left the bucket and was floundering for the coin.
“ Put it in the bucket, good Guillermo,” Rafael called down.
“ I am putting it in my pockets,” up came the r
