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when they had climbed； by the twisting； sandy trail； to the sand dunes that
lay on the edge of the mesa and stretched vaguely away under the stars。 To the
rim…rook line that separated this first mesa from the higher one beyond； Luck
himself knew the sand… hills well。 But beyond the broken line of hills off to
the northwest he had never goneand there lay the territory that belongs to
the Navajos； who are a tricky tribe and do not love the white people who buy
their rugs and blankets and； so claim the Navajos； steal their cattle and
their horses as well。
At the rim of lava rock they made a dry camp and lay down in what comfort they
could achieve； to doze and wait for daylight so that they could pick up the
trail of the red automobile。
CHAPTER XI。 ALL THIS WAR…TALK ABOUT INJUNS
Over his second cup of coffee the pale eyes of Big Medicine goggled
thoughtfully at the forbidding wall of lava rock that stretched before them as
far as he could see to left or right。 There were places here and there where
be believed that a man could climb to the top with the aid of his hands as
well as his feet； but for the horses he was extremely skeptical； and as for a
certain big red automobile。 。 。 。 His eyes swung from the brown rampart and
rested grievedly upon the impassive face of Luck； who was just then reaching
forward to spear another slice of bacon from the frying pan。
〃Kinda looks to me； by cripes； as if we'd come to the end uh the trail； he
observed in his usual full…lunged bellow； as though he had all his life been
accustomed to pitching his voice above some unending clamor。 〃Yuh got any idee
of how an autyMObile clumb that there rim…rock？〃
Old Applehead； squatting on his heels across the little camp…fire； leaned and
picked a coal out of the ashes for his pipe and afterwards cocked his eyes
toward Big Medicine。
〃What yuh calc'late yuh tryin' to do？〃 he inquired pettishly。 〃Start up an
argyment uh some kind？ Cause if ye air； lemme tell yuh I got the yer…ache from
listenin' to you las' night。〃
Big Medicine looked at him as though he was going to spring upon him in deadly
combatbut that was only a peculiar facial trick of his。 What he did do was
to pour that last swallow of hot； black coffee down his throat and then laugh
his big haw…haw…haw that could be heard half a mile off。
〃Y' oughta kep Applehead to home with the wimmin folks； Luck；〃 he bawled
unabashed。 〃Night air's bad fer 'im； and the trail ain't goin' to be smooth
goin'；not if we gotta ride our hawses straight up； by cripes！〃
〃We haven't got to。〃 Luck balanced his slice of bacon upon the unscorched side
of a bannock and glanced indifferently at the rim of rock that was worrying
the other。 〃I swung down here to make camp off the trail But it's only a half
mile or so over this rise that looks level to you； to where the lava ledge
peters out so we can ride over it easier than we rode up off the river…flat in
that loose sand。 That ease your mind any？〃
〃Helps some；〃 Big Medicine admitted； his eyes going speculatively to the rise
that looked perfectly level。 〃I'm willin' to take your word fer it； boss。 But
what's gittin' to worry me； by cripes； is all this here war…talk about Injuns。
Honest to grandma； I feel like as if I'd been readin'〃
〃Aw； it's jest a josh； Bud！〃 Happy Jack asserted boredly。 〃I betche there
ain't been a Injun on the fight here sence hell was a tradin' post！〃
〃You think there hasn't？〃 Luck looked up quickly to ask。 But old Applehead
rose up and shook an indignant finger at Happy Jack。
〃There ain't； hey？ Well； I calc'late that fer a josh； them thar Navvies has
got a right keen sense uh humor； and I've knowed men to laff theirselves to
death on their danged resavationnow I'm tellin' yuh I It was all a josh
mebby； when they riz up a year or two back 'cause one uh their tribe was goin'
t' be arrested er some darn thing！ Ole General Scott； he didn't call it no
joke when he； went in thar to settle 'em down； did he？ I calc'late； mebby it
was jest fer a josh them troops waited on the aidge； ready to go in if he
didn't git back a certain time！ 'N' that wasn't so fur back； shorely； …only
two years。 Why dang your fool heart； I've laid out there in them hills myself
and fit off the Navvies …'n' _I_ didn't see nothin' much to laugh at； now I'm
tellin' yuh！ Time I went there after Jose Martinez〃
〃Better get under way； boys；〃 Luck interrupted； having heard many times the
details of that fight and capture。 〃We'll throw out a circle and pick up the
trail of that machine； or whatever they made their getaway in。 My idea is that
they must have stached some horses out here somewhere。 I don't believe they'd
take the risk of trying to get away in a machine； that would hold them to the
main trails； mostly。 I know it wouldn't be my way of getting outa reach。 I'd
want horses so I could get into rough country； and I've doped it out that
Ramon is too trail…wise to bank very high on an automobile once he got out
away from town。 Applehead； you and Lite and Pink and Weary form one party if
it comes to where we want to divide forces。 Pack a complete camp outfit on the
sorrel and the blackyou notice that's the way I had 'em packed first。 Keep
their packs just as we started out； then you'll be ready to strike out by
yourselves whenever it seems best。 Get me？〃
〃We get you； boss；〃 Weary sang out cheerfully； and went to work gathering up
the breakfast things and putting them into two little piles for the packs。
Pink led up the black and the sorrel； and helped to pack them with bedding and
supplies for four； as Luck had ordered； while Lite and Applehead saddled their
horses and then came up to help throw the diamond hitches on the packs。
A couple of rods nearer the rock wall Happy Jack was grumbling； across the
canvas pack of a little bay； at Big Medicine； who was warning him against
leaving his hair so long as a direct temptation to scalp…lifting。 Luck bad
already mounted and ridden out a little way； where he could view the country
behind them with his field glasses； to make sure that in the darkness they had
not passed by anything that deserved a closer inspection。 He came back at a
lope and motioned to Andy and the Native Son。
〃That red automobile is standing back about half a mile；〃 he announced
hurriedly。 〃Empty and deserted； looks like。 We'll go back and take a look at
it。 The rest of you can finish packing and wait here till we come back。 No use
making extra travel for your horses。 They'll get all they need； the chances
are。〃
The red automobile was empty of everything but the upholstering and a jack in
the toolbox。 The state license number was gone； and the serial number on the
engine had been hammered into illegibility。 What tracks there were had been
blown nearly full of the white sand of that particular locality There was
nothing to be learned there； except the very patent fact that the machine bad
been abandoned for some reason。 Lu