“Tally ought to be a competent judge of elk-skin,” returned Mr. Vernon. “If you tried to get them in New York, the chances are you’d get a clever imitation which would soak up into a pulp the first time the girls waded through a stream.”
“That’s why I said nothing about these boots in my letter to the scouts. I wanted to buy them out here where I knew we should find the genuine article,” explained Mr. Gilroy.
During this conversation the scouts had been entertaining Tally with the story of all they had accomplished in their scout work since last he saw them.
Then Tally began a recital of his thrilling experiences through the hunting season in the mountains, while pursuing his usual occupation of trapping and hunting. He had narrated but the first part of these adventures when Mr. Gilroy called to him.
“Say, Tally! what about the horses and packburros? Will your dealer in Denver have them waiting for us at Trinidad, as I ordered?”
“No, Boss; he say me hav’ card to fren’ in Santa Fé who have fine hoss,” replied Tally, showing Mr. Gilroy the note of introduction.
“Great Scott! We want the mounts when we arrive in Trinidad! I have planned to ride from there over the Raton Mountain, then follow along the Cimarron River, through the Cimarron Canyon as far as Springer. At Springer we can take the train to Las Vegas. From there I plan to ride to the Pecos. So, you see, we’ve got to have horses at Trinidad, Tally.”
“Leaf him to me. Some way we get him fur you all,” promised Tally confidently. And so it was left.
Nothing of importance occurred during the trainride to Trinidad, though the wonderful scenery of Colorado caused constant “oh’s” and “ah’s,” or calls of “look at that” and “come here and see this” from the scouts.
Arriving at Trinidad with his party, Mr. Gilroy despatched Tally at once to hunt up suitable mounts and burros for the trail he had outlined. While the guide went upon this quest, the touring party sought for the desired elk-skin boots.