Joaquin had gained Arthur's good will by confiding to him a great many secrets, and one day he went so far as to confess that Pierre was his particular friend, and that, if he felt so disposed, he could point out the cave in the mountains where the robber was concealed, and tell who it was that supplied him with food, and kept him posted in all that happened in the settlement.

Joaquin might have added, further, that he himself had held several long interviews with Pierre of late, and had talked over with him certain plans, in which Arthur Vane and his three companions of the previous day bore prominent parts.

But this was one secret that the Ranchero kept to himself.
"If you know where the robber is hidden, why don't you tell Mr.Winters, and claim the reward ?" Arthur had one day asked Joaquin.
"What! betray my best friend!" exclaimed that worthy, in great astonishment.

"I am not base enough to abuse any man's confidence.

Do you suppose that if you were in Pierre's place, and I knew where you were concealed, that I could be hired to play false to you?
No, sir!" Arthur remembered this remark, and on this particular morning, as he rode out with the Ranchero, he called the latter's attention to it, and asked if he could trust him.