Wild was adopting different tactics now. Anything to gain time, and he thought that he might get the men in the humor to make terms for his release.
Not that he meant to pay the "toll," as they called it; but if he could make them believe that he had a large sum of money at his command it might work all right.
The fact was that our hero had very little money on his person.
His experience had taught him not to carry much with him.
Therefore, he always kept the bulk of what he brought with him in a hidden pocket in his saddlebags.
Hop was the one who had taught him that this was the safest way, for road agents seldom took a notion to make a thorough search of a horseman's saddlebags.
"How much money have yet got with yer, Young Wild West?" Snivel asked.
"Not much. But I have plenty in the banks of Denver and Phoenix."
"Denver an' Phoenix is both a mighty good distance from here."
"I know that. But an order from me would fetch the money any time you went for it."