“Do we take the trail to Tesuque Creek, thence to the pueblo of Tesuque?” asked Sandy, when all were ready to start.
“You know best, Sandy. We’ll follow,” said Mr. Gilroy.
“All right then, Tesuque Pueblo is not far, and after visiting there we may have time to jog along to Cuyamunque where we can pitch camp for the night,” outlined Sandy.
At Tesuque the scouts found few Spaniards; the citizens mostly were pure-blooded Indians. The natives make strange pottery which is for sale, so Mrs. Vernon purchased many curious animal forms of images, called “gods.” The prehistoric pueblo proved to be interesting, and Burt and Julie found the visit to be worth the trouble; he gathered some splendid copy for his article in his paper, and the scout secured several excellent photographs for her work.
They did not attempt to go farther that night than the fine camp-site at the forks of Tesuque Creek. Tally made every one go to work and, soon, they were settled as if camp had been established for a week.
That night was a merry one around the camp fire. Singing, tale-telling, and star-gazing, to say nothing of the chaff that pleases young folks, made the time fly until Mr. Gilroy said it was time to say good-night.
The following morning the riders resumed the trail and, quite naturally, paired off as best suited them. Sandy rode with Julie, Mr. Gilroy and Betty; Adair and Joan followed; then Hester and Chase. Mrs. Vernon rode with Burt, and Mr. Vernon with Tally.
The trail led through Cuyamunque, before branching to a north-easterly direction to touch at Nambe; the two young men recently added to the scout-party had not seen the old Indian village, so now they visited the ancient ceremonial kiva, and then went up the rocky gorge to see Nambe Falls. Thence they rode by Escondillo, and Julie got several good pictures of the old buildings.
The road now took them through sandstone hills cast in weird shapes. Later they stopped at Sanctuario to visit its quaint chapel, then continued on to Chimayo where Mrs. Vernon and Mr. Gilroy purchased a number of very fine blankets woven on primitive looms by the natives. That night they camped on the Truchas river, where it crossed the trail, and in the morning they resumed trailing in an easterly direction to Trampas then northly to Taos. It was twilight when they reached Ranchos de Taos where rest and a good supper proved to be most welcome.
Mrs. Vernon had had to keep a vigilant eye on the flirtatious young men who fully appreciated four sweet, pretty girls, because she was bound to deliver her young charges heart whole to their mothers. But the scouts had no concern over such fears, and thus enjoyed to the full the companionship of the well-bred college boys.