nd
without showing it had kept a close watch over Pedro and his companions.
The actions of these and of a few Americans, Franklin among the latter,
seemed to merit scrutiny. A subtle change was taking place in them.
Franklin spent more of his time near Tom and Hank, and Pedro and some of
the Mexicans were showing a veiled elation tinged with anxiety. Wherever
Tom went he was watched, and if he joined the advance guard, or the rear
guard, or the flanking parties, Franklin was certain to show up. He
seemed to have taken a belated but strong fancy to the young plainsman.
When Hank and Tom took the packs from the backs of their mules at night
not a move they made was missed; and they soon learned that quite a few
of the Mexicans were sleeping in the wagons of friends during the
morning traveling.

It was here at Middle Spring where Tom and Jim Ogden staged a serious
disagreement, which spread to one between Hank Marshall and Zeb
Houghton, and resulted in the two sets of partners becoming estranged.
When questioned about it in indirect ways by Franklin, Ogden sullenly
said that he could handle his troubles without the aid of others, and
_would_ handle them "danged quick" if a certain plainsman didn't look
out. Zeb was not so cautious and his remarks, vague as they were, were
plain enough to bring fleeting smiles to the faces of Pedro and his
friends.

The grass was better here than at any place since the Arkansas had been
left and as some of the animals were beginning to show unmistakable
signs of the long journey, it was decided to remain here another night
and give them a chance to recuperate a little. The news was hailed
joyfully and numerous hunting parties were arranged at the fires the
first night. Woodson called for volunteers to form a strong day guard
for the animals, which he wanted driven from the camp to graze over the
best grass, and he asked for another strong guard to watch the corral,
since Comanches, Pawnee Picts, Kiowas, and even more northern tribes out
on horse-stealing expeditions could be looked for without unduly
straining the imagination. Arapahoes, Utes, and even Cheyennes were not
strangers to the valley of the Cimarron, and once in a while Apache
raiders paid it flying visits.

Woodson made the round of the fires, trying to discourage the formation
of so many small hunting parties while the caravan was corralled in such
broken and dangerous country, and succeeded in reducing the numbers of
the