hundred, in exchange for their
valuable captive. He ardently hoped that such would prove the case, for
he had already formed a scheme for paying off the rogues in their own
coin.

His intention was to transfer the cattle, managing the payment, however,
with such care that all breach of faith on the part of the captain's
enemies would be frustrated. Then, after he was safe with his friends,
and the property was placed in the hands of the Comanches, it would be
necessary for the red men to _hold_ them. The field would become an open
one, and before they could turn their newly acquired property to
account, they were likely to hear from the original proprietors.

But Wygwind was too shrewd to be ensnared in this style. He and his
partners, in elaborating the scheme that had worked so well up to this
point, had foreseen the very contingency in the mind of the white man,
who sat on his horse before the delegates.

"We take horses--so many."

In making this answer, Wygwind raised the fingers and thumbs of his
hands twice in succession. Unable to count a score in the English
language, he proved nevertheless that he had a clear idea of the number,
which was indicated so plainly that the Texan could make no mistake as
to his meaning.

Gleeson was disappointed as well as surprised. Since each cowboy was
provided with at least three horses, there were about thirty with the
company. To turn two-thirds of these over to the red men would seriously
cripple the whites, who had still a long journey before them.

Furthermore, it must effect a material change in the programme the Texan
had formed. Horseflesh is as dear to the red as to the white man, and,
well mounted as the former would be after the exchange, the chances of
recovering the property by the Texans must be reduced to the minimum.

But the new phase of affairs had to be met. Suppressing all evidence of
his feelings, Gleeson said:

"We have not enough horses to give what you ask; we will let you have
_that_ many."

And he held up the thumb and fingers of his right hand. Wygwind with
another grin shook his head.

"Take _so_ many"--and he repeated the gestures by which he first
indicated twenty.

Gleeson now doubled his offer, which, it will be understood, was half
the price demanded; but the wily Comanche felt that he was in a position
to dictate terms, and remained inexorable.

The Texan knew it was useless to haggle, but he kept it up with a view
of gaining tim