"I reckon he needs a friend."
"Will you be a friend to my son?"
"Not more than I been already."
"Mutiny," says he, "you witness that I, Captain McCalmont, thief, and general manager of the Robbers' Roost gang of outlaws, appoints this Chalkeye Davies guardian of Curly."
"I witnesses."
"Moreover, I aim to corrupt this Chalkeye by handing him stolen money." He passed me a heavy roll of notes worth fifty thousand dollars, which is ten thousand pounds by English reckoning. "My friend," he said, "take these two kids away out of this country—break them dead gentle, keep them clean, make them forget." He gave me a letter. "Read this when you're alone."
"You trust me?" I asked.
"You trust yo'self?"
"Mutiny," says I, "you'll help?"
"Poor Mutiny," said the robber, "might help himself."