The party now consisted of twenty-five men, for the most part pretty well armed.

Of the other sex there were, besides Mrs.
Stanley and Clara, a half-breed girl named Pepita, who served as lady's maid, and two Indian women from Garcia's hacienda, whose specialties were cooking and washing.

In all thirty persons, a nomadic village.
At the first halt Sergeant Weber approached Thurstane with a timorous air, saluted, and asked, "Leftenant, can we leafe our knabsacks in the vagons?
The gentleman has gifen us bermission." "The men ought to learn to carry their knapsacks," said Thurstane.

"They will have to do it in serious service." "It is drue, Leftenant," replied Weber, saluting again and moving off without a sign of disappointment.
"Let that man come back here," called Aunt Maria, who had overheard the dialogue.

"Certainly they can put their loads in the wagons.