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Which stirred old Applehead to an irritated monologue upon the theme of
certain persons whose ignorance is not blissful； but trouble…inviting。
Applehead； it would seem from his speech upon the subject； would be a much
surprised ex…sheriffnow a deputyif they were not all captured and scalped；
if not worse； the minute their feet touched the forbidden soil of these demons
in human form； the Navajo Indians。
〃If they were not too busy weaving blankets for Fred Harvey；〃 Luck qualified
with his soft Texan drawl and the smile that went with it。 〃You talk as if
these boys were tourists。〃
〃Yes；〃 added Andy Green maliciously； 〃here comes a war…party now； boys。 Duck
behind a rock； Applehead； they're liable to charge yuh fer them blankets！〃
The Happy Family laughed uproariously； to the evident bewilderment of the two
Indians who； swathed in blankets and with their hair knotted and tied with a
green ribbon and a yellow； drove leisurely toward the group in an old wagon
that had a bright new seat and was drawn by a weazened span of mangy…looking
bay ponies。 In the back of the wagon sat a young squaw and two papooses； and
beside them were stacked three or four of the gay； handwoven rugs for which
the white people will pay many dollars。
〃Buenas dias；〃 said the driver of the wagon； who was an oldish Indian with a
true picturepostal face。 And： 〃Hello；〃 said the other； who was young and wore
a bright blue coat； such as young Mexicans affect。
〃Hello； folks；〃 cried the Happy Family genially； and lifted their hats to the
good…looking young squaw in the wagon…bed； who tittered in bashful
appreciation of the attention。
〃Mama！ They sure are wild and warlike；〃 Weary commented drily as he turned to
stare after the wagon。
〃Us little deputies had better run home；〃 Pink added with mock alarm。
〃By cripes； I know now what went with Applehead's hair！〃 bawled Big Medicine。
〃Chances is； it's weaved into that red blanket the old buck is wearin'
Haw…haw…haw！〃
〃Laff； dang ye； laff！〃 Applehead cried furiously。 〃But do your laffing where I
can't hear ye； fer I'm tellin' ye right now I've had enough of yore dang
foolishness。 And the next feller that makes a crack is goin' to wisht he
hadn't now I'm tellin' ye！〃
This was not so much an ultimatum as a declaration of warand the Happy
Family suddenly found themselves all out of the notion of laughing at anything
at all。
CHAPTER XII。 THE WILD…GOOSE CHASE
Because they had no human means of knowing anything about the black
automobile that bad whirled across the mesa to the southeast and left its
mysterious passengers in one of the arroyos that leads into the Sandias
Mountains near Coyote Springs； nine cowpuncher deputy…sheriffs bored their way
steadily through sun and wind and thirst； traveling due northwest； keeping
always on the trail of the six horses that traveled steadily before them
Always a day's march behind； always watching hopefully for some sign of delay…
…for an encouraging freshness in the tracks that would show a lessening
distance between the two parties； Luck and his Happy Family rode …from dawn
till dusk； from another dawn to another dusk。 Their horses； full of little
exuberant outbursts of horse…foolishness when they had left town； settled
clown to a dogged； plodding half walk； half trot which is variously described
upon the range； Luck； for instance； calling it poco…poco； while the Happy
Family termed it running…walk； trail…trot； fox…trotwhatever came easiest to
their tongues at the time。 Call it what they pleased； the horses came to a
point where they took the gait mechanically whenever the country was decently
level。 They forgot to shy at strange objects； and they never danced away from
a foot lifted to the stirrup when the sky was flaunting gorgeous bantiers to
herald the coming of the sun。 More than once they were thankful to have the
dust washed from their nostrils and to let that pass for a drink。 For water
holes were few and far between when they struck that wide； barren land ridged
here and there with hills of rock。
Twice the trail of the six horses was lost； because herds of cattle had passed
between those who rode in baste before； and those who followed in haste a
day's ride behind。 They saw riders in the distance nearly every day； but only
occasionally did any Indians come within speaking distance。 These were mostly
headed townward in wagons and rickety old buggies； with the men riding
dignifiedly on the spring seat and the squaws and papooses sitting flat in the
bottom behind。 These family parties became more and more inclined to turn and
stare after the Happy Family； as if they were puzzling over the errand that
would take nine men riding close…grouped across the desert； with four
pack…horses to proclaim the journey a long one。
When the trail swung sharply away from the dim wagon road and into the
northwest where the land lay parched and pitiless under the hot sun； the Happy
Family hitched their gun…belts into place； saw to it that their canteens were
brimming with the water that was so precious； and turned doggedly that way；
following the lead of Applehead； who knew the country fairly well； and of
Luck； who did not know the country； but who knew that he meant to overhaul
Ramon Chavez and Bill Holmes； go where they would； and take them back to jail。
If they could ride across this barren stretch； said Luck to Applehead； he and
his bunch could certainly follow them。
〃Well； this is kinda takin' chances；〃 Applehead observed soberly； 〃unless
Ramon； he knows whar's the water…holes。 If he does hit water regular； I
calc'late we kin purty nigh foller his lead。 They's things I don't like about
the way this here trail is leading out this way； now I'm tellin' yuh！ Way
we're goin'； we'll be in the Seven Lakes country 'fore we know it。 Looks to me
like them greasers must stand in purty well with the Navvies'n' if they do；
it'll be dang hard pullin' to git 'em away 'n！ outa here。 'N' if they don't
stand in； they'd oughta bore more west than what they're doin'。 Looks dang
queer to me； now I'm tellin' ye！〃
〃Well； all I want is to overtake them。 We'll do it； too。 The little grain
these horses get is showing its worth right now；〃 Luck cheered him。 〃They're
keeping up better than I was afraid they would。 We've got that advantagea
Mexican don't as a rule grain his horses； and the chances are that Ramon
thought more about the gold than he did about carrying horse…feed。 We can hold
on longer than he can； Applehead。〃
〃We can't either；〃 Applehead disputed； 〃because if Ramon takes a notion he'll
steal fresh horses from the Injuns。〃
〃I thought you said he stood in with the Injuns；〃 Weary spoke up from the
ambling group； behind。 〃You're kinda talkin' in circles； ain't you；
Applehead？〃
〃Well； I calc'late yuh jest about got to talk in。 circles to git anywheres
near Ramon；〃 Applehead retorted； looking back at the others。 〃They's so； dang
ma