The boys dined at a restaurant and then Fremont went to a comfortable room which had been engaged in a small hotel while Nestor went out into the city, "to spy out the resources of the land," as he declared.
Fremont, however, knew that his friend was very anxious over something.
There appeared to be some new complication which the patrol leader was having a hard time puzzling out.

It may well be imagined that his return was awaited with impatience.

His face was very grave when at last he entered the room.
"I'm sorry I have no better report to make," Nestor said, throwing himself into a chair, "but the fact is that we've got to lose ourselves in the mountains across the river as soon as we can do so.

We can get across to-night, of course, but must hustle after we get across.

We can get provisions at San Jose." "We've got to carry the provisions into the mountains on our backs ?" asked Fremont.
"We surely have," was the reply, "and we've got to lay low while we are cooking and eating them.