The chief of the little band who had taken us prisoners, was not distinguished by outward sign. Possibly his face, his hands, his clothes, were richer in dirt than those of his comrades. He bent over us from his great height, and examined us so closely, that I almost felt the touch of his gray mustache. You would have thought him a tiger who smelled his prey before devouring it. When his curiosity was satisfied, he said to Dimitri: "Empty thy pockets!" Dimitri did not make him repeat it the second time. He threw down, at his feet, a knife, a bag of tobacco, and three Mexican piastres, which made a sum of sixteen francs.
"Is that all?" demanded the brigand.
"Yes, brother."
"Thou art the servant?"
"Yes, brother."
"Take one piastre. Thou must not return to the city without money."
Dimitri began to haggle. "Thou mightest leave me two. I have two horses below; they are hired from the stable; I will have to pay for the day."
"Thou canst explain to Zimmerman that we have taken thy money."
"And if he insists on being paid even then?"
"Tell him that he is only too happy in seeing his horses again."