"Suppose you had captured me, would you let me go again?"
"No, sir!"
"Then say no more about it. Neither can I let you go. I would be a fool if I did."
"Well, I have to agree with you, Captain Joaquin. As I said before, there is no use in our trying to fool each other. We are foes to the bitter end, and so be it."
The outlaw gave a nod and a wave of the hand in acquiescence, and which, at the same time, cut the subject short.
A little later he called a halt.
"Here, men," he said, "is the place for us to part company. You know what the programme is."
They answered that they did.
"You, Hurley, I will make my lieutenant in place of Hoxey. Take the men on at speed to Injun Ford, and there divide your force, half going up the creek and half down. Part by twos, and scatter to every point of the compass until the time of meeting, as agreed."