"I reckon you three," said Jesse, addressing the last named, "had better be the ones to take Sam to the Sawbones.
"He can't go alone, and if we should be obliged to make any hard rides, it wouldn't help the holes in your legs any."
Loudly the trio protested.
"But suppose we run into the soldiers?" queried Bob. "Four of us, with Sam worse than useless won't be able to do anything against 'em and we'll get pinched and run to the nearest fort. And you know what that means," he added significantly.
"For my part I'd rather stay with you-all and take my chances on my legs mortifying."
But the bandit-chieftain was not to be moved.
"I know it's a chance," he replied. "You've got to take it, though. Sam's got to be taken to a sawbones and somebody's got to go with him.
"If you do meet the cavalrymen, you can tell 'em you-all had a run in with a bunch of men.
"That'll make 'em think it's me you met and they'll swallow the bait.
"You can describe us exactly and give 'em a steer as to where you met us, only be sure you send them in the wrong direction.