"We shall take care not to fail, caballero."
"I wish, before leaving you, to give you a proof of the confidence which I have in you."
"A confidence which shall be justified, do not doubt it, señor."
"I have promised you one hundred ounces each, have I not?"
"Yes, señor, one hundred ounces each," said the bandits, whose eyes flashed with covetousness.
Don Pablo again took from under his poncho the Spanish wool purse, and took from it a certain number of pieces of gold.
"Here are twenty-five ounces each," said he, presenting them, "which I beg you to accept as an earnest of our bargain."
"Oh, señor!" they cried, pocketing the money joyfully; "There is no necessity for that."
"I know you too well not to be assured of your complete disinterestedness," he answered; "but we do not know what may happen. Perhaps you will have expenses to incur, so that you had better have funds. Now, gentlemen, we have not, I think, anything more to say. I shall have the honour, then, of taking leave of you, for I have far to go before I get any repose for the night."
"We, too, are going to set out, señor, and if you are going our way, we shall be happy to have your company as far as possible."