He had heard of this cruel phase of Southwestern cunning before.

With the feeble sophistry of the cynic he mistrusted the good his scepticism could not understand.

Howbeit, glancing sideways at the slumbering savagery of the man beside him, and his wounded hand, he did not care to show his lack of confidence.

He contented himself with that equally feeble resource of weak humanity in such cases--good-natured indifference.

"All right," he said carelessly; "I'll see what can be done.