"Granted."
"Isn't your life worth something to you? To be sure it is. Then why not try to make terms to save it?"
"You are fooling with me. You cannot be it earnest, Arnold
Baxter."
"You'll soon see if dad aint in earnest," burst out Dan.
"I am not fooling, Rover, I mean every word of what I say. If you want to save your life you must make terms with me."
"What sort of terms?"
"You must write a letter to your brothers and the man who was with you and get them to return without delay to the East."
"And after that?"
"After they have returned to the East we will set you free, providing you swear to follow them and all of you swear to keep out of Colorado in the future."
"And if I refuse?"