The discovery which checked Oscar Gleeson was the presence of nearly all the Comanches within a hundred feet of the that were holding their conference with him. The signs could not be mistaken, and the Texan abandoned the hopeless scheme he had formed.  
The Texan thus found himself forced back upon the original proposition of Wygwind, which was the of the wounded captain for twenty horses. The price under the circumstances was large, but it could not be questioned that the principal individual concerned would have paid far more, for “what will not a man give in exchange for his life?”
 
It remained to decide upon the method of carrying out the agreement, and again the wily Wygwind displayed his shrewdness. When the Texan referred in his manner to himself and friends as bringing forward the animals to be passed to these two representatives, the Comanche replied that no one but Gleeson himself must act in the transaction. His appearance on the of the , with the string of horses, would be the signal for Wygwind and Richita to bring forward Captain Shirril and to release him with the driving forward of the animals. The exchange, therefore, could be effected without either party gaining the upper hand.
 
It was thus the Comanche stated the situation, and on the face of it, everything appeared , but it was hard for the Texan to repress his , for he saw that every possible advantage remained with the red men. They would group themselves among the hills, so near that not only the prisoner, but Gleeson himself would be within range of their rifles, until the last act of the drama should be completed. There was no chance for any dash on the part of the cowboys, by which they could secure their leader and save their property. Had the Texan been allowed to bring his party with him, such an attempt would have followed with a fair of success.
 
But he had learned long before to accept the ills of life with grim philosophy, and he did not permit the to observe any evidence of his at being overreached by them. While he was convinced that they would neglect no opportunity to break faith, he acted as if there was not a doubt in his mind.
 
The agreement required him to return to camp to secure the animals, and he intimated that considerable time must elapse before the exchange could be effected. Wygwind assured him he would be on the watch for his appearance, and, whatever delay took place should not be chargeable to him. With this understanding, the Texan wheeled and toward the ridge, beyond which he knew his comrades were awaiting his return and report.
 
It was received as he expected; that is to 298say, the views of his friends were almost as numerous as themselves. , Burrell, and Andy Wynwood, the cowboys from Arkansas, declared that there was but one thing to do, and that was to accept the t............