“I don’t see how,” returned the lad, who hated “riddles.”
“By and by, I’ll tell you—if there’s anything to tell. I’m keeping my eyes open, as our father bade us. He said that the habit of observing everything and calling nothing a trifle—Why, sometimes some of the little bits of things led up to the very, very biggest ones. It was a little thing Paula told me about, and I’m watching for it.”
“And I’m on the watch for the camp! Come on. I’ll put all the saddles on. They’re a nuisance. I’d rather ride without any, only it didn’t seem polite to say so when the Pueblos gave them to us.”
“But, brother, they’re not much of saddles. Not like that Dennis gave away with Cork. They’re soft and blanket-y like, and I guess we’re more comfortable with them. Which way, first?”
“Right on and up the canyon. The Indians said that it leads to some mining camps, and they thought we might find the Burnhams there. Or, anyway, hear news of them, if any of the miners have seen them. If there are any miners left. If—if—if! I’m tired of ‘ifs,’ so let’s hurry on!”
They set off, at once. They divided their simple luggage among them, the twins insisting that the disabled Dennis should take but the lightest portion upon his burro. Carlos rode first, leading the way and having some trouble with his new Benoni. Dennis followed next and Carlota last, that she might look out for him. For as she said, with a laugh:
“A broken-armed man must be handled with care! And, aren’t you glad you learned to ride Cork, first? If you hadn’t learned when you were well, you could hardly have managed to do so now.”
“True for ye. But if this ain’t the road that beats all! Faith, here’s more stones nor ever I saw in me life!”
Indeed, that canyon was a rough place, and they followed toward its source the brawling stream that ran through it. Sometimes they were in the water, sometimes out of it. Sometimes they had to cling to the precipitous sides, leaving their animals to their own devices. Again, though rarely, they would reach a freer space, where were myriads of flowers and tree-shaded nooks. They ate their mid-day meal at one such spot and here, for the first time, they found traces of other human beings.
Carlota was poking about among the blooming plants, scrutinizing each and selecting “specimens” for her box, when she caught sight of something blue and small.