“My intention was not to return, but to keep away 281 from the main trail and hunt a shorter road through the mountains to Sacramento.”
Vose Adams gave a low whistle of astonishment.
“That’s the worst I ever heard!”
“And why?”
“You’re not follerin’ any trail at all; you would be sartin to get lost and would never find your way through the mountains; anyhow it would take you three or four years, which I ca’clate is longer than you want to wait.”
“How can you be so positive?”
“It’s true I never went to Sacramento and back, except by follerin’ for most of the way the trail that I know so well, but other folks as smart as you have been lost in the mountains and you couldn’t help it.”
“You advise against it then?”
“I’m so sure of your goin’ wrong that I won’t try to help you unless you give up the idee.”
“Then I hereby give it up.”