We're not out of the mountains yet, and we shall have left the railroad, the last vestige of civilization, behind us." But the conference evolved the fact, according to Wampus, that the best and safest roads were for a time along the line of the Santa Fe, directly west; and this would enable them to visit most of the scenes the girls were eager to see.
"No boulevard in mountain anywhere," remarked Wampus; "but road he good enough to ride on.

Go slow an' go safe.

I drive 'Autocrat' from here to Los Angeles blindfold." With this assurance they were obliged to be content, and an eager and joyful party assembled next morning to begin the journey so long looked forward to.

The landlord of the hotel, a man with a careworn face, shook his head dismally and predicted their return to Albuquerque within twenty-four hours.
"Of course people _do_ make the trip from here to the coast," he said; "but it's mighty seldom, and they all swear they'll never do it again.
It's uncomfortable, and it's dangerous." "Why ?" asked Uncle John.
"You're headed through a wild country, settled only by Mexicans, Indians, and gangs of cowboys still worse.

The roads are something awful.