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horse…nature that they should wander far away at night unless they were
thirsty and on the scent of water。 These horses had drunk their fill at the
little pool below the spring。 They should be feeding now； or they should lie
down and sleep； or stand up and sleepanything but travel like this；
deliberately away from camp。
Pink tried loping； but the ground was too treacherous and his horse too
leg…weary to handle its feet properly in the dark。 It stumbled several times；
so he pulled down again to a fast walk。 For a few minutes he did not hear the
bell at all； and when be did it was not where he had expected to hear it； but
away off to one side。 So he had gained nothing save in anger and uneasiness。
There was no use going back to camp and rousing the boys； for he was now a
mile or so away； and they would be afoot； since their custom was to keep but
one horse saddled。 When he went in to call the next guard he would be expected
to bring that man's horse back with him； and would turn his own loose before
he went to sleep。 Certainly there was nothing to be gained by rousing the
camp。
He did not suspect the trick being played upon him； though he did wonder if
someone was leading the horses away。 Still； in that case whoever did it would
surely have sense enough to muffle the bell。 Besides； it sounded exactly like
a horse feeding and moving away at randomwhich； to those familiar with the
sound； can never be mistaken for the tinkle of an animal traveling steadily to
some definite point。
It was an extremely puzzled young man who rode and rode that night in pursuit
of that evasive； nagging； altogether maddening tinkle。 Always just over the
next little rise he would hear it； or down in the next little draw； never
close enough for him to discover the trick； never far enough away for him to
give up the chase。 The stars he had been watching in camp swam through the
purple immensity above him and slid behind the skyline。 Other stars as
brilliant appeared and began their slow； swimming journey。 Pink rode； and
stopped to listen； and rode on again until it seemed to him that he must be
dreaming some terribly realistic nightmare。
He was sitting on his horse on a lava…crusted ridge； straining bloodshot eyes
into the mesa that stretched dimly before him； when dawn came streaking the
sky with blood orange and purple and crimson。 The stars were quenched in that
flood of light； and Pink； looking now with clearer vision； saw that there was
no living thing in sight save a coyote trotting home from his night's hunting。
He turned short around and； getting his bearings from his memory of certain
stars and from the sun that was peering at him from the top of a bare peak；
and from that sense of direction which becomes second nature to a man who had
lived long on the range； started for camp with his ill news。
CHAPTER XIV。 ONE PUT OVER ON THE BUNCH
〃Sounds to me；〃 volunteered the irrepressible Big Medicine after a heavy
silence； 〃like as if you'd gone to sleep on your hawse； Little One； and
dreamed that there tinkle…tinkle stuff。 By cripes； I'd like to see the
bell…hawse that could walk away from ME 'nless I was asleep an' dreamin' about
it。 Sounds like〃
〃Sounds like Navvy work；〃 Applehead put in； eyeing the surrounding rim of
sun…gilded mesa； where little brown birds fluttered in short； swift flights
and chirped with exasperating cheerfulness。
〃If it was anybody； it was Ramon Chavez；〃 Luck declared with the positiveness
of his firm conviction。 〃By the tracks here； we're crowding up on him。 And no
man that's guilty of a crime； Applehead； is going to ride day after day
without wanting to take a look over his shoulder to see if be's followed。 He's
probably seen us from some of these ridgesyesterday； most likely。 And do you
think he wouldn't know this bunch as far as he could see us； even without
glasses？ The chances are he has them； though。 He'd be a fool if he didn't
stake himself to a pair。〃
〃Say； by gracious；〃 Andy observed somewhat irrelevantly； his eyes going over
the group； 〃this would sure make great picture dope； wouldn't it？ Why didn't
we bring Pete along； darn it？ Us all standing around here； plumb helpless
because we're afoot〃
〃Aw； shut up！〃 snapped Pink； upon whom the burden of responsibility lay heavy。
〃I oughta be hung for laying around the fire here instead of being out there
on guard！ I oughta〃
〃It ain't your fault；〃 Weary championed him warmly。 〃We all heard the bell〃
〃Yesand damn it；_I_ heard the bell from then on till daylight！〃 Pink's lips
quivered perceptibly with the mortification that burned within him。 〃If I'd
been on guard〃
〃Well； I calc'late you'd a been laid out now with a knife…cut in yuh som'ers；〃
Applehead stopped twisting his sunburnt mustache to say bluntly。 〃'S a dang
lucky thing fer you； young man； 't you WASN'T on guard； 'n' the only thing't
looks queer to me is that you wasn't potted las' night when yuh got out away
from here。 Musta been only one of 'em stayed behind； an' he had t' keep out in
front uh yuh t' tinkle that dang bell。 Figgered on wearin' out yer hoss； I
reckon； 'n' didn't skurcely dare t' take the risk uh killin' you off 'nless
they was a bunch around t' handle us。〃 His bright blue eyes with their range
squint went from one to another with a certain speculative pride in the
glance。 〃'N' they shore want t' bring a crowd along when they tie into this
yere outfit； now I'm tellin' yuh！〃
Lite Avery； who had gone prowling down the draw by himself； came back to camp；
tilting stiff…leggedly along in his high…heeled boots and betraying； in every
step he took； just how handicapped a cowpuncher is when set afoot upon the
range and forced to walk where he has always been accustomed to ride。 He
stopped to give Pink's exhausted horse a sympathetic pat on the shoulder； and
came on； grinning a little with the comers of his mouth tipped down。
〃Here's what's left of the hobbles the buckskin wore；〃 he said； holding up the
cut loops of a figure…eight rope hobble。 〃Kinda speaks for itself； don't it？〃
They crowded around to inspect this plain evidence of stealing。 Afterwards
they stood hard…eyed and with a flush on their cheek…bones； considering what
was the best and wisest way to meet this emergency。 As to hunting afoot for
their horses； the chance of success was almost too small to be considered at
all； Pink's horse was not fit for further travel until he had rested。 There
was one pair of field glasses …and there were nine irate men to whom inaction
was intolerable。
〃One thing we can do； if we have to；〃 Luck said at last； with the fighting
look in his face which moving…picture people had cause to remember。 〃We can
help ourselves to any horses we run across。 Applehead； how's the best way to
go about it？〃
Applehead； thus pushed into leadership； chewed his mustache and eyed the mesa
sourly。 〃Well； seein' they've set us afoot； I calc'late we're jest about
entitled