That was the first blunder the wily Captain had made.
A half-scornful smile shot across the dark face of the Colonel, as he looked at those ragged men, and wondered how much they would be likely to pay for anything.
A young officer at his side was more sagacious, and suggested: "I beg a thousand pardons, Colonel, but they are miners."
"Ah! They may have been successful."
The expression of his face underwent a rapid change, and there was nothing scornful in it when he remarked to Captain Skinner that the price of a written "safe-conduct" for him and his men would be a hundred dollars each.
"All right, Señor Colonel," said the Captain. "We will pay you in gold as soon as it's written."
One of the young officers at once dismounted and produced a supply of writing materials. The "safe-conduct" was a curious document, and nothing exactly like it could have been had or bought of any cavalry officer in the United States. It was written in Spanish, of course, and it appeared to vouch for the peaceable and honest character and intentions of the entire company of miners.
The latter stood sternly behind their horses, in a dangerous-looking circle, while the bargain was making, and the Captain himself had coin enough to pay for them all, without calling for contributions.
The Colonel was very polite now, and gave very accurate advice and instructions as to the route the miners would do well to follow.
Captain Skinner's second blunder was that he determined to go by the road laid out for him by the Colonel.