Nicolas may have a copper skin, and be under-sized and illiterate, but he's one of the old-fashioned, true-to-the-death kind.

But, if he helped guide us out of this wilderness, Don Luis would probably flay the poor fellow alive afterwards." "I wonder if we're going to make the telegraph station by daylight!" Harry went on.
"I'm afraid not.

But we ought to be there some time during the forenoon." "That will give Don Luis time, perhaps, to wake up to our disappearance and send men after us," hinted Harry.
Tom's face grew long at this suggestion.

He was well aware that Don Luis Montez was a man who was both dreaded and obeyed in these mountains.
"Oh, well, we'll do all we can for ourselves," Tom proposed.
"We'll keep cheerful about it, too--until the worst happens." "I'm rested, Tom.

Shall we start along ?" "Yes; for we're both anxious to get through!" Once more Reade took the lead.