"Wall"—the outlaw looked mighty serious—"if she happens to get drowned in the desert—perhaps we'll see you come. Now let's to business. Them kids at La Morita has to be collected, I reckon."
"Why come to we-all?" says Mutiny,—"ain't the gang handy at rescues?"
"My wolves would jump at the chance; I choked them off."
"For how?"
"Bekase"—the Captain turned his haunted eyes on me—"I don't want them po' youngsters mixed in with thieves."
"You wanted me mixed again," says Mutiny through his teeth.
"Sonny"—the outlaw laid his hand on Mutiny's shoulder—"you been a bad aig same as me, and we'd be hard to spoil. But these aigs at La Morita is new-laid, fresh aigs, so I wan' them to keep."
"You're right, boss."
"Mutiny, I sent you away for yo' good, 'ecause that girl may pull you up if anything can on airth. As for me, wall, I don't know as I care what becomes of me. I tried to turn good one't—tried mortal hard to run straight. I envy every honest man I see. I'm like a crawling snake, ambitious for bird wings to fly with; but still I'm no more than snake."
"The kids have a chance all right," says Mutiny.