that you get it."

"Thar ain't a man livin' as kin git a vote o' thanks fer me out o' this
caravan," laughed Woodson, his eyes twinkling. "But I ain't got no call
ter kick: I ain't had nigh th' trouble I figgered on. Jest th' same,
I'll be glad when we meet up with th' greaser troops at Cold Spring. I
aim to leave ye thar an' go on ahead an' fix things in th' city."

Uncle Joe caught himself in time. "That's where we bust up?"

Woodson nodded. "Thar ain't no organization from thar in. Don't need it,
with th' sojers. All us proprietors that ain't got reg'lar connections
in th' city will be leavin' from Cold Spring on."

"Any danger from th' Injuns, leavin' that way?"

"Oh, we slip out at night," answered Woodson. "Thar ain't much danger
from any big bands. Got ter do it; customs officers air like axles; they
work better arter they air greased. I aim ter leave two waggins behind
th' noon arter we git to th' Upper Spring, an' save five hundred apiece
on 'em. Th' other six kin make it from thar with th' extry loads, an'
th' extry animals to help pull 'em." He looked toward the wagons of
Alonzo and Enoch, where Tom had tarried on his way back. "Thar's a fine,
upstandin' young man; I've had my eye on him ever since we left th'
Grove."

"He is; an' anythin' he tells you is gospel," said Uncle Joe.

They saw the two traders waving their arms and soon Tom hurried up.

"Alonzo an' Enoch would like to go with us, only thar hosses air with
th' herd," he said.

"Then we'll go afoot," declared Woodson. "I ain't hankerin' so much fer
a hunt as I air ter git away from these danged waggins fer a spell. I'm
sick o' th' sight o' 'em. Better come along, Mr. Cooper."

"That depends on how fur yer goin'; this young scamp will walk me off my
feet."

"Oh, jest a-ways around th' hills; dassn't go too fur, on account of
airy Injuns that may be hangin' 'round."

In a few moments the little group had left the encampment behind and out
of sight and Woodson, waving the others ahead, fell back to Tom's side.

"Hyar we air, with nobody ter listen. What ye want ter tell me?"

To the captain's growing astonishment Tom rapidly sketched his
conversation with the two Texans, his affair with the despotic New
Mexican governor and what it now meant to him. Then he told of his
determination to leave the caravan some night soon, perhaps on this
night.

"Wall, dang my eyes!" exclaimed Woodson at the conclusion of the
narrative. "Good fer them