The Vanquished Read Online Free

your colony. You are offered a year’s free subsistence for your colonizers in return for protecting our citizens against the Apaches from the north. We offer no scalp bounty—we have found too many weaknesses in that venture.”
    â€œI can understand that,” Crabb said politely. At his shoulder, Sus finished his reading of the Mexican document and handed it to Crabb. With nothing more than a brief nod, Sus went back across the length of the room to his chair, where he resumed his original position, leg draped over the arm. Crabb tugged his beard. Irritatingly, images and memories clouded his thoughts. He had to push away a recollection of young people singing by dim lamplight on a manor’s wide veranda.
    â€œThrough me,” Gabilondo went on, “Ignacio Pesquiera asks your help. Another gain you will make will be the recovery of the properties in the Arizpe district that were lost by the family of these two kind people at the time of our revolution.” Gabilondo bent his head toward Sus and Filomena, who represented the dwindling power of the Ainsa family. He added, “That is the sum of our agreement. Do you accept it?”
    â€œIt merely restates my original proposal to Pesquiera,” Crabb said in a muffled tone. “It’s entirely acceptable. Of course I’ll agree to it.”
    â€œVery well, then.” Gabilondo displayed all the stiffness and exact-courteous airs of a hostile diplomat; Crabb disliked him heartily. But he was accustomed to dealing with political men, and showed none of his distaste. He said, “You’ll find the arms and ammunition in a warehouse at the foot of Front. Here’s a bill of lading—you can advise me if the shipment is satisfactory.”
    He stood, withdrawing a yellow document from his waistcoat pocket, and crossed the room with choppy strides to hand it to Gabilondo. The Spaniard glanced up at him and read the bill of lading carefully. Presently his dark head moved up and down and he folded the paper, pocketing it. “ Bien ,” he murmured. “Our fight against Gandara goes well. This will make the victory more quick and more certain. You have our thanks, señor. How soon may we expect your colonists?”
    Crabb glanced through the window and returned unhurriedly to his red chair, and sat before he spoke. “My men are recruiting people for an exploratory party now. We should be able to embark within the week. I intend to take a party of about a hundred men on this first trip. That will be large enough to protect your flanks from the Apaches, and at the same time secure a site for our colony. Afterward we’ll send for more colonists, with families. I don’t believe women and children should be subjected to the rigors of the first expedition.”
    â€œOf course,” Gabilondo murmured. “I understand perfectly, señor.”
    â€œOnce your revolution is ended, and we have established accommodations for our people, that will be time enough for the families to join us.”
    â€œYes.” Gabilondo stood up, a stocky brown soldier, holding his beaver hat. He moved to the door, turned to bow low to Crabb’s wife, gave both Crabb and Sus his short, firm handshake, and left with a frigid white smile on his dark face.
    When the door closed, Sus sank back into his chair and considered his fingernails with lazy-lidded eyes. “I do not trust him. He’s a ladron if I ever saw one.”
    â€œYou make use of whatever you have to work with,” Crabb told him. “Sus, you’d best make ready to start our journey.”
    â€œMy equipment is already packed,” Sus said without looking up. Indolent as he seemed, he had a way of accomplishing things. He said, “I believe I shall pay a call on a young lady. If you will excuse me?” He smiled roguishly toward his sister, touched Crabb’s arm in a friendly way and strolled out.
    Crabb stood with his hands behind