"I shall want money, too. I shall need, perhaps, two thousand dollars.
Apaches."

"Yes, yes," assented Garcia. "The Apaches make an attack. You shall have
money. I can raise it; I will."

"How soon will you have a train ready?"

"Immediately. Any day you want. You must start at once. She must not know
of the will. She might remain here, and let the estate be settled for her,
and draw on it. She might go back to New York. Anybody would lend her
money."

"Yes, events hurry us," muttered Coronado. "Well, get your cursed train
ready. I will induce her to take it. I must unsay now all that I said in
favor of the isthmus."

"Do be judicious," implored Garcia. "With judgment, with judgment. Lost on
the plains. Stolen by Apaches. No killing. No scandals. O my God, how I
hate scandals and uproars! I am an old man, Carlos. With judgment, with
judgment."

"I comprehend," responded Coronado, adding a long string of Spanish
curses, most of them meant for his uncle.




CHAPTER III.