"Why impossible?"
"I could not permit it."
"Let me tell you something. Willie Jones now knows all about the part you and your young men have played in capturing Dunk Tucker. He knows that it was your party that drove off his men when they were trying to get Lieutenant Withem. Do you think Willie will overlook that? Not Willie! Willie will be on your trail from now on. He will watch his opportunity and when he thinks he is safe from the Rangers he will strike—-he or his men. Then you young men will need to be resourceful, indeed, if you get off with whole skins."
"Oh, wow!" groaned Stacy. "I'll get it! I'll stop some more bullets.
I'm the mark for all the lead that's flying around in these parts, I am!"
"I am of the opinion that we had better leave the border then," declared the professor.
"Oh, don't do that, don't do that," begged the boys. "We never ran away yet. Let's not do it now. We have taken care of ourselves before this and we can do so again."
"Of course I do not wish to influence you. It is for you, Professor, to do what seems best to you. If you decide to remain I think I shall be able to protect you."
"What would you suggest, sir?"
"I was about to ask if you look to spend most of your time in the mountains here?"
"That was our intention, later journeying down to the Rio Grande."