t of
the plan would be that the Comanches would secure twenty valuable ponies
without benefiting Captain Shirril in the least. They were so villainous
by nature that they would shoot him down, after he had left their lines,
and more than likely would bring Gleeson himself from the saddle. The
New Mexican favored a pretended compliance with the proposition. He
wished all to ride to the ridge with the horses, where they would halt,
while the Texan went forward with them. This would not violate the
conditions imposed by Wygwind, and they could watch proceedings from the
elevation. At the proper moment, when Gleeson saw the captain was out of
range, he could give the signal and the company on the ridge would spur
forward at headlong speed, with the certain result of making matters
lively for a time.

Joseph George Garland advocated a fair exchange through and through. He
insisted what no one could dispute, that the red men had secured the
upper hand, and it was fortunate that they were willing to restore the
captain on any terms. If they complied with their pledge, honor required
the whites to be equally scrupulous in fulfilling their agreement. When
their leader rejoined them, the twenty horses became the rightful
property of the Comanches, though he was willing to admit they were
subject to reprisal.

Antonio Nunez shrugged his shoulders and said he was willing to do
whatever the others decided upon. He had no proposition of his own to
make.

"Where's Baby?" asked Gleeson, looking around with surprise, having
missed him for the first time. "I would like to know what _he_ thinks,
since every pard has his own views."

The enquiry developed the fact that Avon Burnet had not returned to camp
since his departure with Captain Shirril and Shackaye. Had the others
not been so busily occupied, immediately after their own return, in
looking after the cattle, they would have noticed that he remained
seated on his horse for some minutes on the crest of the ridge.

"I know," said the Texan, after studying the "lay of the land" for some
minutes. "He has ridden along the ridge on this side and got among the
hills back of where I was talking with Wygwind."

"What'll be the result of _that_?" asked Hauser Files, who had not yet
expressed his views of the situation.

"It will play the mischief with everything," was the truthful reply of
the Texan, who added excitedly: "There he comes now as if old Nick was
after him!"

CHA