Chapter 17 Summary

They ride at dusk. The sentinel tries to stop them but is unsuccessful. They make their exchange with the Indians. The lieutenant has come outside the walls and watches the transaction, asking Brown if they are not afraid the Indians will follow them. Brown assures him that Indians do not ride at night. Besides, Glanton has rigged the barrel so that it contains mostly water. They ride through the night and most of the next morning. Glanton watches his men sleep, thinking that so many of them are either dead or deserted, including all of the Delawares. A few days later, they run into a legion of soldiers under Colonel Garcia. These men are bedraggled and using derelict weapons. Glanton allows them to pass.

The gang continues to travel. One night they have a philosophical discussion about God and the universe. The judge...