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The boys were riding along in silence； sitting over to one side with a foot
dangling free of its stirrup； except Andy； who had hooked one leg over the
saddle…horn and was riding sidewise； smoking a meditative cigarette and
staring out between the ears of his horse。 They were tired； horses and men；
they were tired to the middle of their bones。 But they went ahead without
making any complaints whatever or rasping oneanother's tempers with ill…chosen
remarks； and for that Luck's eyes brightened with appreciation。
Presently； when they had ridden at least a mile down the arroyo； a gray
hat…crown came bobbing into sight over a low tongue of rocky ground that cut
the channel almost in two。 The horses threw up their heads and perked cars
forward inquiringly； and in a moment Happy Tack came into view； his gloomy；
sunburned face wearing a reluctant grin。
〃Well； we got on the trail；〃 he announced as soon as he was close enough。 〃And
we follered it to water。 Applehead says fer you to come on and make camp。
Tracks are fresher around that' water…hole'n what they have been； an'
Applehead； he's all enthused。 I betche we land them fellers t'morrow。〃
Out of the arroyo in a place where the scant grassland lapped down over the
edge； Happy Jack led the way and the rest followed eagerly。 Too often had they
made dry camp not to feel jubilant over the prospect even of a brackish
water…hole。 Even the horses seemed to know and to step out more briskly。
Straight across the mesa with its deceptive lights that concealed distance
behind a glamor of intimate nearness； they rode into the deepening dusk that
had a glow all through it。 After a while they dipped into a grassy draw so
shallow that they hardly realized the descent until they dismounted at the
bottom； where Applehead was already starting a fire and the others were laying
out their beds and doing the hundred little things that make for comfort in
camp。
A few bushes and a stunted tree or two marked the spring that seeped down and
fed a shallow water…hole where the horses drank thirstily。 Applehead grinned
and pointed to the now familiar hoofprints which they had followed so far。
〃I calc'late Ramon done a heap uh millin' around back there in that rocky
arroyo；〃 he observed； 〃'fore he struck off over here。 Er else they was held up
fer some reason； 'cause them tracks is fresher a hull lot than what them was
that passed the Injun ranch。 Musta laid over here las' night； by the looks。
But I figgered that we'd best camp whilst we had water； 'n' take up the trail
agin at daybreak。 Ain't that about the way you see it； Luck？〃
〃Why； certainly；〃 Luck assured him with as much heartiness as his utter
weariness would permit。 〃Men and horses； we're about all in。 If Ramon was just
over the next ridge； I don't know but it would pay to take our rest before we
overhaul them。〃
〃They's grass here； yuh notice；〃 Applehead pointed out。 〃I'll put the bell on
Johnny； and if Pink'll bobble that buckskin that's allus wantin' to wander off
by hisself； I calc'late we kin settle down an' rest our bones quite awhile
b'fore anybody needs to go on guard。 Them ponies ain't goin' to stray fur off
if they don't have to； after the groun' they covered t'daynow I'm tellin'
yuh！ They'll save their steps。〃
There is a superstition about prophesying too boastfully that a certain thing
will or will not happen； you will remember that there is also a provision that
the rash prophet may avert disaster by knocking wood。 Applehead should； if
there is any grain of sense in the rite； have knocked wood with his fingers
crossed as an extra precaution； against evil fortune。
For after they had eaten and methodically packed away the food； and while they
were lying around the cheerful glow of their little campfire； misfortune stole
up out of the darkness unaware。 They talked desultorily as tired men will；
their alertness dulled by the contented tinkle…tinkle of the little bell
strapped around the neck of big； bay Johnny； Applehead's companion of many a
desert wandering。 That brilliant constellation which seems to hang just over
one's head in the high altitude of our sagebrush states； held hypnotically the
sleepy gaze of Pink； whose duty it was to go on guard when the others turned
in for the night。 He lay with his locked fingers under his head； staring up at
one particularly bright group of stars； and listened to the droning voice of
Applehead telling of a trip he had made out into this country five or six
years before； and soaking in the peace and the comfort which was all the more
precious because he knew that soon he must drag his weary body into the saddle
and ride out to stand guard over the horses。 Once he half rose； every movement
showing his reluctance。
Whereupon Weary； who sprawled next to him； reached out a languid foot and gave
him a poke。 〃Aw； lay down；〃 he advised。 〃They're all right out there for
another hour。 Don't yuh hear the bell？〃
They all listened for a minute。 The intermittent tinkle of the cheap little
sheep bell came plainly to them from farther down the draw as though Johnny
was eating contentedly with his mates； thankful for the leisure and the short；
sweet grass that was better than hay。 Pink lay back with a sigh of relief； and
Luck told him to sleep a little if he wanted to； because everything was all
right and he would call him if the horses got to straying too far off。
Down the drawwhere there were no horses feedingan Indian in dirty overalls
and gingham shirt and moccasins； and with his hair bobbed to his collar； stood
up and peered toward the vague figures grouped in the fire…glow。 He lifted his
hand and moved it slightly； so that the bell he was holding tinkled exactly as
it had done when it was strapped around Johnny's neck； Johnny； who was at that
moment trailing disgustedly over a ridge half a mile away with his mates；
driven by two horsemen who rode very carefully； so as to make no noise。
The figures settled back reassured； and the Indian grinned sourly and tinkled
the little bell painstakingly； with the matchless patience of the Indian。 It
was an hour before he dimly saw Pink get up from the dying coals and mount his
horse。 Then； still tinkling the bell as a feeding horse would have made it
ring； he moved slowly down the draw； slowly； so that Pink did not at first
suspect that the bell sounded farther off than before； slowly yet surely；
leading Pink farther and farther in the hope of speedily overtaking the horses
that he cursed for their wandering。
Pink wondered； after a little； what was the matter with the darned things；
wandering off like that by themselves； and with no possible excuse that he
could see。 For some time he was not uneasy； he expected to overtake them
within the next five or ten minutes。 They would stop to feed； surely； or to
look back and listenin a strange country like this it was against
horse…nature that they should wander far away at night unless they were
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