A preponderance of testimony,
however (Don Nicolas Sandoval swore it was all perjured and paid for)
indicated that but one quarter of the sheep found on the Rancho Palomar
belonged to Loustalot, the remainder being owned by his foreman and
employees. To Farrel, therefore, these sheep were awarded, and in some
occult manner Don Nicolas Sandoval selected them from the flock; then,
acting under instructions from Farrel, he sold the sheep back to
Loustalot at something like a dollar a head under the market value and
leased to the amazed Basque for one year the grazing privilege on the
Rancho Palomar. In return for the signing of this lease and the
payment of the lease money in advance, Farrel executed to Loustalot a
satisfaction in full of the unpaid portion of the judgment. "For," as
the sheriff remarked to Farrel, "while you hold the balance of that
judgment over this fellow's head your own head is in danger. It is
best to conciliate him, for you will never again have an opportunity to
levy against his assets."
"I think you're right, Don Nicolas," Farrel agreed. "I can never feel
wholly safe until I strike a truce with that man. Tell him I'll give
him back his eight thousand dollar automobile if he will agree on his
own behalf and that of his employees, agents and friends, not to
bushwhack me or any person connected with me."
"I have already made him a tentative offer to that effect, my boy, and,
now that the first flush of his rage is over, he is a coyote lacking
the courage to kill.
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