But he received only shakes of the head, short replies, and malicious looks.

So at length, with every pretense of disappointment and dejection, he went down the hillside.
A mile farther along, where he found two more men occupied at similar labour, he likewise dissembled his purpose, with the same opposition, controversy, and retreat.

He thereupon led Dave back to the ranch house, where he prepared and ate dinner with satisfaction.

Very likely Menocal would receive reports that evening faithfully depicting his chagrin and despair, or whatever were the Mexican equivalents.
Yet while he deluded the banker, he must secretly carry on his actual surveying on the mesa.

Since the men setting fence posts had a fairly wide view of the plain, he determined to work in the open only for two or three hours at daybreak before the Mexicans were about.