"Then you have come from New York together?"
"Not at all. We met at the fort two days ago, and as I am no longer disguised," said Pierre Durand, "despite all his cunning, he knew me not."
"Well, the matter is settled," said Tom Mitchell, in a whisper; "we have our man here; he shall never leave."
"My friend," said Pierre Durand, gravely, "that is not the game we have to play. He is as slippery as an eel."
"I don't think, if I made up my mind," said the outlaw chief, with a sinister smile, "he would ever escape me."
"Well, there is a time for everything. In the first place, learn his projects, so that we may unmask him. This will be all the more easy," said the sea captain, "in that we know who he is, while he is ignorant of our designs."
"There is one thing worth mentioning," said the outlaw; "I, too, know him well. He will be rather surprised presently."
"Be careful. One word might put him on his guard."
"Is not my whole life passed," continued the outlaw, sadly, "in outdoing others in cunning and diplomacy?"
"True. I leave, then, everything to you."