"I wish you would," said Jerry; "and, judge, ef they've lost any, and
will let me hev twenty men, I'll fetch every one o' the critters back
afore ter-morrow night at this time, or you may call old Jerry a liar,
and that's what no man ever done yet, that's sartin."

"Do you really think it can be done, Jerry?"

"I'm sartin of it," was the confident reply.

"Well, I'll go over and talk with Magoffin; and, if he's lost any stock
and will lend us the men, I've no objection to your making the attempt."

"You bet, judge, he'll see for himself, that them cussed varmints won't
hev more'n four hours the start; an', ef he'll let us hev the men, we kin
ketch 'em, sartin."

I visited Magoffin's camp, and found it, like our own, in some confusion.
I ascertained, however, that Magoffin himself was not with the train,
which was in charge of his _major-domo,_ or head man, Don Ignacio.
Him I sought and learned that between twenty and thirty of their mules
were missing. I then briefly stated Jerry's proposition, to which Don
Ignacio immediately assented, offering to accompany the expedition
himself.

Word was sent to Jerry; and, half an hour afterwards, when I reached
camp, I found him ready for a start.

Hal and Ned were both extremely anxious to go; but Jerry would not hear
to it for a moment, declaring they must remain and take charge of camp