“We had about as nice and quiet a journey as you’ve ever seen,” said he. “Nothing happened until yesterday, when we crossed the Colorado and went into camp. Then we met three Americans.”
“Three!” said Walter.
“Yes,” replied the other boy. “They were, strangely enough, coming from San Antonio, and were on their way to New Orleans.”
Again Ned and Crockett and Walter exchanged glances. The eyes of the backwoodsman were full of laughter.
“Well, well!” said he. “And of course you all got to talking and saying how queer it was that you were going from New Orleans to San Antonio.”
“Yes, of course,” admitted the boy.
“Did the three Americans seem interested?” asked the backwoodsman.
“They did,” said Sid Hutchinson. “That is, for a while. Then they seemed to shut up tight; and they didn’t say much more about anything.”
“Did they give any names?” asked Walter.
“One’s name was Huntley—I think they called him colonel. Then there was a sharp looking man in black—Davidge they called him. I forget the name of the third one.”