in Uncle Joe the traders pushed the matter and after a
long, haggling discussion, they offered an additional five per cent of
the purchase price for a quick decision.

Uncle Joe accepted it on the spot and nudged his brother, who grudgingly
accepted the terms if the traders would buy the two great wagons and
their teams. This they promised to do if they could find enough extra
goods to fill them, and they soon left the warehouse for fear of showing
their elation. They knew where they could sell the wagons at a profit
with a little manipulation on the part of their English friend.

Elated by the outcome of his protracted arguments, Uncle Joe hurried
around to Armstrong's store and told the news to Tom and his three
friends.

"We can get them goods off our hands in two days," he exulted; "an' th'
caravan will be ready to leave inside a week. Don't say a word to
nobody, boys. We'll try to sneak Adam and Patience out of town so Armijo
won't miss 'em till they're on th' trail. Them Chihuahua traders won't
disturb th' goods before we start for home because they got to get a lot
more to fill their wagons, an' th' merchandise is safer in th' store
than it will be under canvas. I wish th' next week was past!"

To wish the transaction kept a secret and to keep it a secret were two
different things. The Chihuahua traders found more merchants who felt
that they would be much safer in Missouri than in Santa Fe, and the
south-bound wagon train was stocked three days before time for the
Missouri caravan to leave. There were certain customs regulations
relating to goods going through to El Paso and beyond, certain involved
and exacting forms to be obtained and filled out, much red tape to be
cut with golden shears and many palms to be crossed with specie. Uncle
Joe and his brother found that the matter of transferring their goods to
the traders took longer than they expected and were busy in the store
for several days, leaving Patience to make the most of the short time
remaining of her stay in the capital of the Department of New Mexico.

At last came the day when the eastbound caravan was all but ready to
start, certain last minute needs arising that kept it in the camp
outside the city until the following morning. Busily engaged in its
organizing and in numerous personal matters, they told her to stay in
the city. Uncle Joe and his brother could not accompany Patience on
another ride up the mountain and they understood that she