A day or two after that, Mr. Winters and Archie set out on horseback for
San Diego, the former to collect the money for a drove of horses he had
sold there, before his departure for the East, and Archie to explore the
city. Frank, hourly expecting his two friends, Johnny Harris and Dick
Thomas, who had promised to spend a week with him, remained at home,
with the housekeeper and two of the Rancheros, one of whom was Pierre,
for company. Dick and Bob, and the rest of the herdsmen, were off
somewhere, attending to the stock.

Frank, being left to himself, tried various plans for his amusement. He
read a few pages in half a dozen different books, took a short gallop
over the prairie, shot a brace of quails for his dinner; all the while
keeping a bright lookout for his expected visitors, who, however, did
not make their appearance. About noon, he was gratified by hearing the
sound of a horse's hoofs in the court. He ran out, expecting to welcome
Johnny and Dick, but, to his disappointment, encountered a stranger,
who reined up his horse at the door, and inquired:

"Is this Mr. Winters's rancho, young man?"

Frank replied that it was.

"He is at home, I suppose?" continued the visitor.

"No, sir; he started for the city early this morning."

The gentleman said that was very unfortunate, and began to make
inquiries concerning the road Mr. Winters generally traveled when he
went to San Diego--whether he took the upper or lower trail--and then he
wondered what he should do.