“Don't get that idea into your head,” said I. “Just be ready for anything that comes. We're not out of the woods yet, by a long way.”
“They've gone on to Sacramento,” laughed Fitzhugh; and the others nodded in sympathy.
“Indeed?” I said. “How many of you could have missed seeing a party of nine get off at a way-station on this line?”
There was silence.
“If there's any one here who thinks he would have missed us when he was set to look for us, just let him speak up,” I continued with good-humored raillery.
“I guess you're right,” said Fitzhugh. “They couldn't well have missed seeing us.”
“Exactly. And they're not off for Sacramento, and not far from Livermore.”
“Well, they're only two,” said Lockhart.
“How long will it take to get a dozen more up here?” I asked.
“There's a train to Niles about noon,” said one of the men. “They could get over from there in an hour or two more by hard riding.”