He had urged the northern and circuitous route mainly to get rid of the officer, taking it for granted that the latter must join his new command as soon as possible.

He did not want him courting Clara all across the continent; and he, did not want him saving her from being lost, if it should become necessary to lose her.
"I earnestly hope that we shall not be deprived of your company," he said.
Thurstane, in profound thought, simply bowed his acknowledgments.

A few minutes later, as he rose to return to his quarters, he said, with an air of solemn resolution, "If I can possibly go with you, I _will_." All the next day and evening Coronado was in and out of the Van Diemen house.

Had there been a mail for the ladies, he would have brought it to them; had it contained a letter from California, he would have abstracted and burnt it.

He helped them pack for the journey; he made an inventory of the furniture and found storeroom for it; he was a valet and a spy in one.
Meantime Garcia hurried up his train, and hired suitable muleteers for the animals and suitable assassins for the travellers.