Josè held up a warning hand. “Do not speak of it, Rosendo. I am not well. But not a word to Carmen!”
Rosendo nodded understandingly. “It has been hard on 350 you, Padre. But you will soon be off now. And in the States with her––”
“For God’s sake, friend, never speak of that again!” cried Josè sharply. “Listen! How long will it take to complete your preparations?”
“Bien,” returned the amazed Rosendo when he recovered his breath, “we can get away to-morrow.”
“Can you not go this evening?”
“No, Padre. There is much to do. But you––”
“Hear me, friend. Everything must be conducted in the greatest secrecy. It must be given out that the Americans go to explore the Boque; that you accompany them as guide; that Carmen goes as––as cook, why not?”
“Cierto, she cooks as well as Maria.”
“Very well. Juan must be kept in complete ignorance of the real nature of your trip. He must not go with you. He is the courier––I will see that Fernando sends him again to Bodega Central to-morrow, and keeps him there for several days. You say it is some two hundred miles to Llano. How long will it take to go that distance?”
“Why––Quien sabe, Padre?” returned Rosendo thoughtfully. “With a fair trail, and allowing the Americanos some time to prospect on the Boque––where they will find nothing––and several days to look over La Libertad, we ought to reach Llano in six weeks.”