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nothing to be learned there； except the very patent fact that the machine bad
been abandoned for some reason。 Luck took a look at the engine and saw nothing
wrong with it。 There was oil and there was 〃gas〃a whole tank full。 Andy and
Miguel； riding an ever…widening circle around the machine while Luck was
looking for evidence of a breakdown； ran across a lot of hoofprints that
seemed to head straight away past the rim…rock and on to the hills。
They picked up the trail of the hoofprints and followed it。 When they returned
to the others they found the boys all mounted and waiting impatiently like
hounds on the leash eager to get away on the chase。 Six horses there were； and
even old Applehead； who was in a bad humor that morning and seemed to hate
agreeing with anyone； admitted that probably the four who had committed the
robbery and left town in the machine had been met out here by a man who
brought horses for them and one extra pack horse。 This explained the number in
the most plausible manner； and satisfied everyone that they were on the right
trail。
Riding together …since they were on a plain trail and there was nothing to be
gained by separatingthey climbed to the higher mesa； crossed the ridge of
the three barren hills that none of them but Applehead had ever passed； and
went on and on and on as the hoofprints led them； straight toward the
reservation。
They discussed the robbery from every anglethey could think of； and once or
twice someone hazarded a guess at Annie…Many…Ponies' reason for leaving and
her probable destination。 They wondered how old Dave Wiswell； the dried little
cattleman of The Phantom Herd； was making out in Denver； where he had gone to
consult a specialist about some kidney trouble that had interfered with his
riding all spring。 Weary suggested that maybe Annie…Many…Ponies had taken a
notion to go and visit old Dave； since the two were old friends。
It was here that Applehead unwittingly put into words the vague suspicion
which Luck had been trying to stifle and had not yet faced as a definite idea。
〃I calc'late we'll likely find that thar squaw putty tol'ble close to whar we
find Bill Holmes；〃 Applehead remarked sourly。 〃Her goin' off same； day they
stuck up that bank don't look to me like no happenstancenow I'm tellin' yuh！
'N' if I was shurf； and was ast to locate that squaw； I'd keep right on the
trail uh Bill Holmes； jest as we're doin' now。〃
〃That isn't like Annie；〃 Luck said sharply to； still the conviction in his own
mind。 〃Whatever faults she may have； she's been loyal to me； and honest。 Look
how she stuck last winter； when she didn't have anything at stake； wasn't
getting any salary； and yet worked like a dog to help make the picture a
success。 Look how she got up in the night when the blizzard struck； and fed
our horses and cooked breakfast of her own accord； just so I could get out
early and get my scenes。 I've known her since she was a dirty…faced papoose；
and I never knew her to lie or steal。 She wasn't in on that robberyI'll bank
on that； and she wouldn't go off with a thief。 It isn't like Annie。〃
〃Well；〃 said Big Medicine； thinking of his own past； 〃the best uh women goes
wrong when some knot…headed man gits to lovemakin'。 They'll do things fer the
wrong kinda man； by cripes； that they wouldn't do fer no other human on earth。
I've knowed a good woman to lie and stealfer a man that wasn't fit； by
cripes； to tip his hat to 'er in the street！ Women；〃 he added pessimistically；
〃is something yuh can't bank on； as safe as yuh can on a locoed horse！〃 He
kicked his mount unnecessarily by way of easing the resentment which one woman
had managed to instil against the sex in general。
〃That's where you're darned right； Bud；〃 Pink attested with a sudden
bitterness which memory brought。 〃I wouldn't trust the best woman that ever
lived outa my sight； when you come right down to cases。〃
〃Aw； here！〃 Andy Green； thinking loyally of his Rosemary； swung his horse
indignantly toward the two。 〃Cut that out； both of you！ Just because you two
got stung； is no reason why you've got to run down all the rest of the women。
I happen to know one〃
〃Aw； nobody was talking about Rosemary；〃 Big Medicine apologized gruffly。
〃She's different； any fool knows that。〃
〃Well； I've got a six…gun here that'll talk for another one；〃 silent Lite
Avery spoke up suddenly。 〃One that would tip the scales on the woman's side
for goodness if the rest of the whole sex was bad。〃
〃Oh； thunder！〃 Pink cried； somewhat redder than the climbing sun alone would
warrant。 〃I'll take it back。 I didn't mean THEMyou know darned well I didn't
mean themnor lots of other women I know。 What I meant was〃
〃What you meant was Annie；〃 Luck broke in uncompromisingly。 〃And I'm not
condemning her just because things look black。 You don't know Indians the way
I know them。 There's some things an Indian will do； and then again there's
some things they won't do。 You boys don't know itbut yesterday morning when
we left the ranch； Annie…Many…Ponies made me the peace…sign。 And after that
she went into her tent and began to sing the Omaha。 It didn't mean anything to
youOld Dave is the only one that would have sabed； and he wasn't there。 But
it meant enough to me that I came pretty near riding back to have a pow…wow
with Annie； even if we were late。 I wish I had。 I'd have less on my conscience
right now。〃
〃Fur's I kin see；〃 Applehead dissented impatiently； 〃you ain't got no call to
have nothin' on your conscience where that thar squaw is concerned。 You
treated her a hull lot whiter'n what she deservednow I'm tellin' ye！ 'N' her
traipsin' around at nights 'n'〃
〃I tell you； you don't know Indians！〃 Luck swung round in the saddle so that
he could face Applehead。 〃You don't know the Sioux； anyway。 She wouldn't have
made me that peace…sign if she'd been double…crossing me； I tell you。 And she
wouldn't have sung the Omaha if she was going to throw in with a thief that
was trying to lay me wide open to suspicion。 I've been studying things over in
my mind； and there's something in this affair I can't sabe。 And until you've
got some proof； the less you say about Annie…Many…Ponies the better I'll be
pleased。〃
That； coming from Luck in just that tone and with just that look in his eyes；
was tantamount to an ultimatum； and it was received as one。 Old Applehead
grunted and chewed upon a wisp of his sunburned mustache that looked like
dried cornsilk after a frost。 The Happy Family exchanged careful glances and
rode meekly along in silence。 There was not a man of them but believed that
Applehead was nearer right than Luck； but they were not so foolish as to
express that belief。
After a while Big Medicine began bellowing tunelessly that old ditty； once
popular but now half forgotten：
〃Nava； Nava； My Navaho…o I have a love for you that will grow…ow！〃
Which stirred old Applehead to an irritated monologue upon the them