There you should pick up the trail of
Buck's wagon back to the railroad eighty-five miles south."
Bob's eyes opened.
"Is it as bad as that?" he said half laughing. "We'll certainly
have to get busy if the Cibola breaks down."
"Or," went on Ned, "any strewn in the valley below here flows
finally into the San Juan River to the north. If you can make your
way to this river and then succeed in following its banks eastward
until you reach the plains, some time or other you'll find a
frontier settlement."
"Or Utes," interrupted Alan.
"Gib me de mountain road," exclaimed Elmer quickly.
"Nomo'Utesfo'me!"
"Yes," added Ned, "that's the trouble. The route to the San Juan is
not only through a barren, broken mountain region, but it gets you
finally right into the Southern Ute reservation. And, remember,
too, that this is Navajo land. Your safety with them, should you be
discovered, will be in diplomacy. And now good-bye--until we meet
again."
"And if we don't," replied Bob, huskily, taking the hands of the two
boys in turn, "I just want to say again that you boys have done for
me what I can't forget and what I can't repay.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197