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Applehead； had no intention whatever of molesting the Navajos； but the Navajos
did not know that； and they acted according to their lights and their ideas of
honorable warfare。
Roused to resistance in behalf of their fellows； they straightway forsook
their looms； where they wove rugs for tourists； and the silver which they
fashioned into odd bracelets and rings； and the flocks of sheep whose wool
they used in the rugs and they went upon a quiet； crafty warpath against these
persistent white men。
They stole their horses and started them well on the trail back to
Albuquerquesince it is just as well to keep within the white men's law； if
it may be done without suffering any great incon venience。 They would have
preferred to keep the horses； but they decided to start them home and let them
go。 You could not call that stealing； and no one need go to jail for it。 They
failed to realize that these horses might be so thoroughly broken to camp ways
that they would prefer the camp of the Happy Family to a long trail that held
only a memory of discomfort； they did not know that every night these horses
were given grain by the camp…fire； and that they would remember it when
feeding time came again。 So the horses； led by wise old Johnny； swung in a
large circle when their Indian drivers left them； and went back to their men。
Then the Navajos； finding that simple maneuver a failureand too late to
prevent its failing without risk of being discovered and forced into an open
fight …got together and tried something else； something more
characteristically Indian and therefore more actively hostile。 They rode in
haste that night to a point well out upon the fresh trail of their fleeing
tribesmen； where the tracks came out of a barren； lava…encrusted hollow to
softer soil beyond。 They summoned their squaws and their half…grown papooses
armed with branches that had stiff twigs and answered the purpose of brooms。
With great care about leaving any betraying tracks of their own until they
were quite ready to leave a trail； a party was formed to represent the six
whom the Happy Family bad been following。 These divided and made off in
different directions； leaving a plain trail behind them to lure the white men
into the traps which would be prepared for them farther on。
When dawn made it possible to do so effectively； the squaws began to whip out
the trail of the six renegade Indians； and the chance footprints of those who
bad gone ahead to leave the false trail for the white men to follow。 Very
painstakingly the squaws worked； and the young ones who could be trusted。
Brushing the sand smoothly across a hoofprint here； and another one there；
walking backward； their bodies bent； their sharp eyes scanning every little
depression； every faint trace of the passing of their tribesmen； brushing；
replacing pebbles kicked aside by a hoof； wiping out completely that trail
which the Happy Family bad followed with such persistence； the squaws did
their part； while their men went on to prepare the trap。
Years agoyet not so many after allthe mothers of these squaws； and their
grandmothers； had walked backward and stooped with little branches in their
hands to wipe out the trail of their warriors and themselves to circumvent the
cunning of the enemy who pursued。 So had they brushed out the trail when their
men had raided the ranchos of the first daring settlers； and had driven off
horses and cattle into the remoter wilderness。
And these； mind you； were the squaws and bucks whom you might meet any day on
the streets in Albuquerque； padding along the pavement and staring in at the
shop windows； admiring silken gowns with marked…down price tags； and
exclaiming over flaxen…haired dolls and bright ribbon streamers； squaws and
bucks who brought rugs and blankets to sell； and who would bargain with you in
broken English and smile and nod in friendly fashion if you spoke to them in
Spanish or paid without bickering the price they asked for a rug。 You might
see them in the fifteen…cent store； buying cheap candy and staring in mute
admiration at all the gay things piled high on the tables。 Remember that； when
I tell you what more they did out here in the wilderness。 Remember that and do
not imagine that I am trying to take you back into the untamed days of the
pioneers。
Luck and the Happy Familyso well had the squaws done their workpassed
unsuspectingly over the wiped…out trail； circled at fault on the far side of
the rocky gulch for an hour or so and then found the false trail just as the
Indian decoys had intended that they should do。 And from a farther flat topped
ridge a group of Indians with Dutch hair…cuts and Stetson hats and moccasins
（the two hall…marks of two races） watched them take the false trail； and
looked at one another and grinned sourly。
The false trail forked； showing that the six had separated into two parties of
three riders； each aiming to passso the hoofprints would lead one to
believearound the two ends of a lone hill that sat squarely down on the mesa
like a stone treasure chest dropped there by the gods when the world was
young。
The Happy Family drew rein and eyed the parting of the ways dubiously。
〃Wonder what they did that for？〃 Andy Green grumbled； mopping his red face
irritatedly。 〃We've got trouble enough without having them split up on us。〃
〃From the looks； I should say we're overhauling the bunch；〃 Luck hazarded。
〃They maybe met on the other side of this butte somewhere。 And the tracks were
made early this morning； I should say。 How about it； Applehead？〃
〃Well； they look fresher 'n what we bin follerin' before；〃 Applehead admitted。
〃But I don't like this here move uh theirn； and I'm tellin' yuh so。 The way〃
〃I don't like anything about 'em；〃 snapped Luck； standing in his stirrups as
though that extra three inches would let him see over the hill。 〃And I don't
like this tagging along behind； either。 You take your boys and follow those
tracks to the right； Applehead。 I and my bunch will go this other way。 And
RIDE！ We can't be so awfully much behind。 If they meet； we'll meet where they
do。 If they scatter； we'll have to scatter too； I reckon。 But get'em is the
word； boys！〃
〃And where；〃 asked Applehead with heavy irony； while he pulled at his
mustache； 〃do yuh calc'late we'll git t'gether agin if we go scatterin' out？〃
Luck looked at him and smiled his smile。 〃We aren't any of us tenderfeet；
exactly；〃 he said calmly。 〃We'll meet at the jail when we bring in our men； if
we don't meet anywhere else this side。 But if you land your men； come back to
that camp where we lost the horses。 That's one； place we KNOW has got grass
and water both。 If you come and don't see any sign of us； wait a day before
you start back to town。 We'll do the same。 And leave a note anchored in the
crack of that big bowlder by the spring； telling the news。 We'll do the same
if we get there first and don't wait for you。〃 He hesitated；