personal belongings.
Don't worry, Tom; if I can't handle it all, Alonzo and Enoch can take
th' balance. Them greasers showing their cards?"

"It's like this: According to those Texans we met, no troops are going
to meet us this trip. Their advance guard got thrashed and Armijo and
the main body turned tail at Cold Spring and fled back to Santa Fe. I
could go with the caravan miles farther and probably be safe; but if
Pedro gets a messenger away secretly there is no telling what may
happen. If I stay with the caravan and put up a fight it might end in
embroiling a lot of the boys and certainly would make trouble for them
if the train pushed on to Santa Fe, and it's got to push on. I won't
surrender meekly. So, you see, I'll have to strike out."

Uncle Joe nodded. "If it wasn't for Patience, and my brother in Santa
Fe, I'd strike out with you. Goin' to Bent's?"

"Bent's nothing!" retorted Tom. "I'm going to Santa Fe, but I'm going a
way of my own."

"It's suicide, Tom," warned his friend. "Better let me take in your
stuff, an' meet us here on the way back. Patience won't spoil; an' when
she learns how much you're wanted by Armijo she'll worry herself sick if
she knows you are in th' city. Don't you do it!"

Tom scowled at a break in the hills and in his mind's eye he could see
her riding gaily with his tenderfoot rivals. "Reckon she won't fall
away," he growled. "Anyhow, there's no telling; an' there's no reason
why she should know anything. I told her I was goin' to Santa Fe, an'
I'm going!"

Uncle Joe was about to retort but thought better of it and smiled
instead. "Oh, these jealous lovers!" he chuckled. "Blind as bats! Who do
you know there, in case I want to get word to you?"

Tom swiftly named three men and told where they could be found, his
companion nodding sharply at the mention of two of them.

"Good!" exclaimed the trader. "Throw your packs into my wagons an' I'll
see to stowin' 'em."

"No," replied Tom. "That's got to be done when th' camp's asleep. I'm
supposed to be takin' 'em with me.

"But these Mexicans'll trail you, an' get you when you're asleep,"
objected Uncle Joe.

Tom laughed and shook his head, and turned to face Woodson, who was
walking toward them. "Th' captain an' I am goin' huntin'. See you
later."

"Git yer hoss, Boyd," called the captain. "I'm goin' fer mine now. How
air ye, Mr. Cooper?"

"Never felt better in my life, captain. We all owe you a vote of thanks,
an' I'll see