"Not unless they watched them," Mrs. Simpson spoke up. "Miranda's always the lady, and Cindamine always the tomboy. She's forever in some scrape." "Cindy will be a lady some day," Mindy defended her twin. "Sure I will, Mom," Cindy agreed. "How did I do?" "Except that you said 'leaderdemain' rather than 'legerdemain,' you did very well," Mrs. Simpson said. "I'll remember next time," Cindy promised. Alec chuckled. "Cindy's a 'witch girl' now," he remarked. "Merciful heavens!" their mother gasped. "Oh, it isn't that bad. Her magic just scared the daylights out of some man. I stood right next to him, and he was shaking in his boots." "Who was it?" Pete Brent asked curiously. Alec searched the crowd, which was now watching a juggler who had taken Cindy's place on the tailboard. He saw the short, swarthy man and pointed him out. Pete Brent shook his head soberly. "No wonder he was scared." "Who is he?" Mr. Simpson asked. "Tom LaMott. He's part Indian, part Spanish, and part nobody knows what. He believes in devils, and it's easy to understand why Cindy's magic tricks seemed like deviltry to him." "Is he bad?" Mindy asked. "I myself know of nothing very bad he's ever done, but according to the stories going around, he isn't good," Pete replied. Mrs. Simpson said doubtfully, "Sometimes I wish we'd stayed in Missouri." "This is no better and no worse than Missouri, Mrs. Simpson," Pete said respectfully. "You said yourself that that man's a heathen." "You will," Pete pointed out, "find them in Missouri, New York, or any other place you go." "Say what you please, Pete, this is different from Missouri." "Only because of the crowd gathered here. But ninety-five per cent of them are honest, hard-working, God-fearing people. They don't want a thing except a chance at some of the last good free land left in the country under control of the United States." "How about the other five per cent?" Mrs. Simpson asked. "Well," Pete said reluctantly, "I wouldn't want to cross that border without a gun." "If you know you'll need a gun, then you must know of dangers," said Mrs. Simpson. "Now, Ann," big Jed Simpson said easily, "there isn't a thing to worry about." "I hope not." "We have good stock, good equipment, and, thank God, we're all healthy and together again. There is no reason why we don't have a good chance," Mr. Simpson told her. "Looks as though the show's over," he added. [Illustration] They drifted back toward their wagons, which were side by side. Pete's big draft horses and his four trim, fast ponies, tied to a picket line, shuffled about and munched fodder. A little distance away, the Simpsons' four wagon mules were in a rope corral. But Sunshine, the swift palomino mare with the white mane and tail, the horse Mr. Simpson would ride in the Land Run, was staked on her own picket rope away from the mules, and she was eating oats. Sunshine would have to travel very fast and far. "Coming, twins?" their mother called.