"May I put down my hands? I am wounded—"
"Oh, put 'em down? I didn't more than graze you to keep you from shooting one of our men. Put 'em down!"
With a sigh of relief the outlaw lowered his hands, an example followed by his men, all of whom were unarmed. They marched behind their leader to the place designated, and for the first time Snake breathed easily.
"How do you reckon he got here?" asked Bud, when hurried preparations were under way for breakfast.
"Give it up," answered Snake, who had sent some men to collect the guns and horses of the Del Pinzo gang.
"He may have bribed his way out of jail, or have broken out, and we'll have to let that go until later. He may really be trying to drive back the Yaquis, for fear they'll steal things that he has an eye to himself. Or he may be lying—I think most likely the last. Anyhow he happened to strike this place the same time as we did, and either knowing who we were, or not knowing, and that part has me guessing, he tried to pick us off. However we'll give him the slip this time."
"I don't see how, if you leave him his horses and guns," put in Yellin'
Kid.
"Well, he and his men can't do much riding on horses without saddles and bridles," said Snake, "and as for the guns—well, I'll leave them for him at the first ranch I come to."
"You mean you're going to take his guns with you?" asked Bud.
"Surest thing you ever said, son. Think I'd trust him with any shooting irons behind me. And we'll just strip his horses, too. We can pack along his saddles and bridles. If they want to ride bare back that's up to them."