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his head bandaged and his nerves very much unstrung。 He was much calmer；
however； than when he had hysterically accused Luck of betraying him into
putting the money out to be stolen。 He admitted now that he was not at all
sure of the voice which talked with him over the phone； indeed； now when he
heard luck speak； he felt extremely doubtful of the similarity of that other
voice。 He protested against being blamed for being too confiding。 He had never
dreamed； he said； that anyone could be so bold as to plan a thing like that。
It all sounded straight； about the spoiled negative and so forth。 He was very
sorry that he had caused Luck Lindsay any inconvenience or annoyance； and he
begged Luck's pardon several times in the course of his explanation of the
details。
They left him still protesting and apologizing and explaining and touching his
bandaged head with self…pitying tenderness。 In the street Luck turned to the
sheriff as though his mind was made up to something which argument could not
alter in the slightest degree。
〃I realize that in a way I'm partly responsible for this；〃 he said crisply。
〃The scenes I took the other day made this play possible for Ramon and his
bunch。 What you'd better do right now is to swear Applehead and me in as
deputiesand any of the boys that want to come along and help round up that
bunch。 We'll do it； if it's to be done at all。 I feel I kind of owe it to that
poor simp in there to get the money backsabe？ And I owe it to myself to
bring in Ramon and Bill Holmes； and whoever else is with 'em on this； young
Rojas we know is for one。〃
〃Where do you aim to look for 'em； if you don't mind telling？〃 Hank Miller was
staring doubtfully down at Luck。
〃Where？ Miguel here says they went toward Atrisco。 That means they're hitting
for the Navajo reservation。 There's three hundred miles of country straight
west； and not so much as a telegraph pole！ Mighty few service stations for the
machine； too； when you think of itand rough country to travel over。 If they
try to go by automobile； we'll overhaul them； most likely； before they get
far。 Also； we can trace 'em easy enough。〃
The sheriff pulled at his stubby mustache and looked the bunch over。 〃You know
that country？〃 he asked； still doubtfully。 〃Them Navvies are plumb snaky；
lemme tell yuh。 Ain't like the Pueblosyou're taking a risk when yuh ride
into the Navvy country。 They'll get yuh if they get a chancet； run off your
horses； head yuh away from waterthey're plumb MEAN！〃
〃Well； now； I calc'late I know them Navvies putty tol'ble well；〃 Applehead cut
in。 〃I've fit 'em comin' and goin'。 Why； my shucks！ Ef I notched my gun for
the Navvies I've got off an' on in the course uh my travels； she'd shore look
like a saw…blade； now I'm tellin' yuh！〃
〃Yes； an' yuh got a couple too many fer to go monkeyin' around on their groun'
agin；〃 the sheriff informed him bluntly。 〃They ain't forgot the trip you made
over there after Jose Martinez。 Best fer you to keep off'n that reservation；
Appleheadand I'm speakin' as a friend。〃
〃As a friend you kin shet up；〃 Applehead retorted pettishly。 〃Ef Luck hits fer
the Navvy country after them skunks； I calc'late ole Applehead'Il be somers
close handy by〃
〃Hurry up and swear us in；〃 Luck interrupted。 〃We've got to get to the ranch
and back with an outfit； yet tonight； so we can hit the trail as soon as
possible。 No use for you to take the oath； Andywhat you better do is to stay
at the ranch with the women folks。〃
〃Aleck will be there； and Pete and Tommy and the cook；〃 Andy rebelled
instantly。 His hand went up to take the oath with the others。
There on the corner of the street where the shadows lay under a gently
whispering box…elder tree； Hank Miller faced the group that stood with right
hands uplifted and swore them as he had swornwith the oath that made deputy
sheriffs of them all。 He told them that while he did not believe the thieves
had gone to the reservation； and would look for them elsewhere； the idea was
worth acting uponseeing they wanted to do it anyway； and that the sheriff's
office stood ready to assist them in any way possible。 He wished them luck and
hurried away； evidently much relieved to get away and out of an uncomfortable
position。
In the next two hours Luck managed to accomplish a good deal； which was one of
the reasons why he was manager and director of the Flying U Feature Films。
Just for example； he went to a friend who was also something of a detective；
and put him on the job of find Annie…Many…Poniesa bigger task than it looked
to Luck； as we have occasion to know。 He sent some of the boys back to the
ranch in a machine； and told them just what to bring back with them in the way
of rifles； bedding rolls； extra horses and so on。 The horses they had ridden
into town he had housed in a livery stable。 He took the Native Son and a
Mexican driver and went over to Atrisco； routed perfectly polite and terribly
sleepy individuals out of their beds and learned beyond all question that a
red automobile with several men in it had passed through the dusty lanes and
had labored up the hill to the desert mesa beyond and that no one had seen it
return。
He sent a hundred…and…fifty…word message to Dewitt of the Great Western
Company in Los Angeles； explaining with perfect frankness the situation and
his determination to get out after the robbers； and made it plain also that he
would not expect salary for the time he spent in the chase。 He ended by saying
tersely； 〃My reputation and standing of company here at stake；〃 and signed his
name in a hasty scrawl that made the operator scratch his ear reflectively
with his pencil when he had counted the words down to the signature。 After
that； Luck gave every ounce of his energy and every bit of his brain to the
outfitting of the expedition。
So well did he accomplish the task that by one O'clock that night a low…voiced
company of men rode away from a livery stable in the heart of the； town；
leading four pack…horses and heading as straight as might be for the bridge。
They met no one； they saw scarcely a light in any of the windows that they
passed。 A chill wind crept up the river so that they buttoned their coats when
the hoofbeats of the horses sounded hollow on the bridge。 Out through the lane
that leads to Atrisco； which slept in the stolid blackness of low adobe houses
with flat roofs and tiny windows； they rode at a trot。 Dogs barked； ran but to
the road and barked again； ran back to the adobe huts and kept on barking。 In
one field some loose horses； seeing so many of their kind in the lane；
galloped up to the fence and stood there snorting。 These were still in their
colthood； however； and the saddle…horses merely flicked ears in their
direction and gave them no more heed。
〃I'm glad you're sure of the country； up here on top；〃 Luck said to Applehead
when they had climbed； by the twisting； sandy trail； to the sand dunes that
lay on the