"If you only work it right, you'll be able to put the soldiers on the wrong track and get yourselves clear.
"Why, it's a cinch."
"If it's so mighty easy, why don't you go with the boys and let me stay?" demanded Frank.
"Because they have my description too close," returned his brother. "It's dollars to a piece of hard tack they'd recognize me the minute they got their eyes on me.
"And then it would be all up with little Willie."
Jesse's argument was too cogent to admit of further dispute and, much against their will, the quartette of wounded outlaws accepted the decree of separation.
But it was not ordained that the plan should be put into effect.
The last of the wounds inflicted upon the bandits by the bullets of the redskins was being dressed when Comanche Tony came up to Jesse.
The old Indian fighter who, alone of all, had not been injured for the reason that he had been tied to the stake and was therefore prevented from taking any part in the furious encounter, had taken advantage of the pre-occupation of his pals to make a little reconnaisance on his own account.