ck mules of Ramon Rotil laden with guns!

"If Tula had lived, no other would have been asked," Rhodes had
stated. "But one is needed to make camp for the senora on the
trail,--and to me the work of the packs and the animals."

"That I can do," Clodomiro offered. "My thought was to go where Tula
said lovers of hers must go, and that was to El Gavilan. But this
different thing can also be my work to the safe wells of the American.
That far I go."

Thus the three turned north from the war trail, and Clodomiro
followed, after making a prayer that the desert wind would hear, and
be very still, and fill no track made by the mules with the
ammunition.

This slight discussion at the parting of the ways concerning two
definite things,--need of haste, and conserving of water,--left no
moment for thought or query of the packs of furnishings deemed of use
to Senora Perez in her removal to the north.

Dona Jocasta herself had asked no question and taken no interest in
them. Stripped of all sign of wealth and in chains, she had ridden
into Soledad, and in comfort and much courtesy she was being conducted
elsewhere. How long it might endure she did not know, and no power of
hers could change the fact that she had been made wife of Jose
Perez;--and at any turn of any road luck might again be with his
wishes, and her estate fall to any level he choose to enforce.

At dusk they reached the Little Coyote well, and had joy to find water
for night and morning, and greasewood and dead mesquite wood for a
fire. The night had turned chill and Clodomiro spread the _serape_ of
Dona Jocasta over a heap of flowering greasewood branches. It was very
quiet compared with the other camps on the trail, and had a restful
air of comfort, and of that Jocasta spoke.

"Always the fear is here, senor," she said touching her breast. "All
the men and guns of Ramon Rotil did not make that fear go quiet.
Every canon we crossed I was holding my breath for fear of hidden men
of Jose Perez! You did not see him in the land where he is strong; but
men of power are bound to him there in the south, and--against one
woman----"

"Senora, I do not think you have read the papers given to you by Padre
Andreas to put with the others given by General Rotil," was Kit's
quiet comment. He glanced toward the well where the boy was dipping
water into a wicker bottle. "Have you?"

"No, senor, it is my permit to be passed safely by all the men of
Ramon Rotil," she said.