The people were at times unreasonable in their demands. When I could not get a reasonable settlement would refer to the authority. I made the people understand that they could not get anything only what was just and reasonable. When they found that I understood them they became much easier to deal with. In that country what you do today always gets to the next camping place before you do. When all my accounts were settled for the day I would hand what money was left to the quartermaster, sometimes it would be over $100. One day on handing him the money he said, "Jones, you're a d---d fool" "Why?" I asked. "That money is already accounted for." I did not take the hint as he expected I would, but continued to return the overplus. This remark to me was made in kindness, as the quartermaster was a great friend of mine and wanted me to keep the money for myself, but I did not think it right. It would never have done me any good. When we arrived in Santa Fe, we were paid off in full up to date, and mileage allowed; but no protection was furnished for our return home. The Navajoes had just broken out and the troops had been ordered to chastise them. The good of the service now required that we get home the best we could. Aside from this we were treated in the best manner possible; provisions being given us by the quartermaster and some valuable presents by other officers. We knew that our chances were slim forgetting back safely. To make things as safe as possible, however, we bought a good wagon and four first class mules; loaded up with Mexican and Navajo blankets and other goods believing that we would be less liable to get robbed of these goods than if we carried our money with us. We were also informed by some friends, who had lately come in from Denver that blankets of this kind were in good demand at that place. There was a great rush for Pike's Peak and miners and prospectors wanted these blankets. CHAPTER XXIV. Leave Santa Fe for Home--Attacked by Robbers--A Shower of Bullets--A Hard Ride--Incidents of our Journey--A Novel Sign. We left Santa Fe about the loth of September, 1860. Two young men that came through from Utah, whose homes were in the States, accompanied us on horseback. They were well mounted and we were all well armed. We took every precaution to make ourselves secure against thieves stealing our stock, or taking advantage of us in any way.