Chapter 3 Summary

The old gringo is coming to Mexico. He goes to El Paso by train. He is surprised by the development of the city, including cars and bigger buildings. He notes that most of the people he sees are young and probably born in the twentieth century. He stays long enough to orient himself and to determine in which direction he will head to cross the border. He has traveled lightly, all in black except for his shirt. He has only one suitcase, which contains a few articles of clothing, a Colt .44, two books he has written, and a copy of Don Quixote. He acquires a white mare and has a purposefully vague discussion with the seller about why he is there and where he is going, in order to throw off anyone looking for him.

The old gringo heads west about twenty kilometers...