"But to hear it from thee brings pleasure."
"And more," Agustin said.
"That one above," he pointed toward Primitivo, "is a dependable value.
The Pilar is much, much more than thou canst imagine.
The old man Anselmo, also.
Andres also.
Eladio also.
Very quiet, but a dependable element.
And Fernando.
I do not know how thou hast appreciated him.
It is true he is heavier than mercury.
He is fuller of boredom than a steer drawing a cart on the highroad.
But to fight and to do as he is told. _Es muy hombre!_ Thou wilt see."
"We are lucky."
"No.
We have two weak elements.
The gypsy and Pablo.
But the band of Sordo are as much better than we are as we are better than goat manure."
"All is well then."
"Yes," Agustin said.
"But I wish it was for today."
"Me, too.
To finish with it.
But it is not."
"Do you think it will be bad?"
"It can be."
"But thou are very cheerful now, _Ingles_."
"Yes."
"Me also.
In spite of this of the Maria and all."
"Do you know why?"
"No."
"Me neither.
Perhaps it is the day.
The day is good."
"Who knows?
Perhaps it is that we will have action."
"I think it is that," Robert Jordan said.
"But not today.
Of all things; of all importance we must avoid it today."
As he spoke he heard something.
It was a noise far off that came above the sound of the warm wind in the trees.
He could not be sure and he held his mouth open and listened, glancing up at Primitivo as he did so.
He thought he heard it but then it was gone.
The wind was blowing in the pines and now Robert Jordan strained all of himself to listen.
Then he heard it faintly coming down the wind.
"It is nothing tragic with me," he heard Agustin say.
"That I should never have the Maria is nothing.
I will go with the whores as always."
"Shut up," he said, not listening, and lying beside him, his head having been turned away.