Before they set out the generous Don confided to Jack’s care a document in Spanish.
“If you fall in with any government officials,” he said, “that will act as your safeguard and passport. Adios, señors.”
“Adios!” shouted the boys, as they rode off. Jack, looking back in the early dawn, thought he saw a handkerchief fluttering from an upper window of the hacienda. At any rate, he waved his sombrero gallantly and bowed low.
“Guess it’s a good thing we got Jack away from the hacienda,” chortled Walt, in an audible tone.
“Guess it’ll be a good thing for you to maintain a discreet silence,” growled Jack, in what was for him such a savage tone that Walt looked rather alarmed. But before they had gone many miles Jack, who had been silent and thoughtful, began to become his old self once more under the influence of the trail and looked-for adventure.
They traveled that day without any incident worth chronicling, and nightfall found them camped on a fertile plain, deep in waving grasses and plentifully watered. The level expanse was almost at the foot of the gloomy Chinipal Range, in which was located the mysterious mountain in search of which they had journeyed so far. That night all lay down to rest with the feeling that the morrow would see the beginning of their real hard work.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TRAIL OF THE TREMBLING MOUNTAIN.