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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； betraying that
even in his eagerness he too dreaded the parting of the ways。 〃Well； so long；
boystake care of yourselves。〃
〃Well； now； I ain't so dang shore〃 Applehead began querulously。
But Luck only grinned and waved his hand as he led the way to the south on the
trail that obviously had skirted the side of the square butte。 The four who
went with him looked back and waved non…committal adieu； and Big Medicine；
once he was fairly away； shouted back to them to look out for Navvies； and
then laughed with a mirthless uproar that deceived no one into thinking he was
amused。 Pink and Weary raised their voices sufficiently to tell him where he
could go； ；and settled themselves dejectedly in their saddles again。
〃Well； I ain't so darned sure； either；〃 Lite Avery tardily echoed Applehead's
vague statement； in the dry way he had of speaking detached sentiments from
the mental activities that went on behind his calm； mask…like face and his
quiet eyes。 〃Something feels snaky around here today。〃
Applehead looked at him with a glimmer of relief in his eyes； but he did not
reply to the foreboding directly。 〃Boys； git yore rifles where you kin use 'em
quick；〃 be advised them grimly。 〃I kin smell shootin' along this dang trail。〃
Pink's dimples showed languidly for a moment； and be looked a question at
Weary。 Weary grinned answer and pulled his rifle from the 〃boot〃 where it was
slung under his right leg； and jerked the lever forward until a cartridge slid
with a click up into the chamber； let the hammer gently down with his thumb
and laid the gun across his thighs。
〃She's ready for bear；〃 he observed placidly。
〃Well； now； you boys show some kinda sense；〃 Applehead told them when Pink had
followed Weary's example。 〃Fellers like Happy and Bud； they shore do show
their ign'rance uh this here； dang country； when they up 'n' laff at the idee
uh trouble… …now I'm tellin' yuh！〃
From the ridge which was no more than a high claw of the square butte； four
Indians in greasy； gray Stetsons with flat crowns nodded with grim
satisfaction； and then made baste to point the toes of their moccasins down to
where their unkempt ponies stood waiting。 They were too far away to； see the
shifting of rifles to the laps of the riders； or perhaps they would not have
felt quite so satisfied with the steady advance of the four who had taken the
right…hand fork of the trail。 They could not even tell just which four men
made up the party。 They did not greatly care； so long as the； force of the
white men was divided。 They galloped away upon urgent business of their own；
elated because their ruse had worked out as they had planned and hoped。
Applehead took a restrained pull at the canteen； cocked his eyes back at the
butte they had just passed； squinted ahead over the flat waste that shimmered
with heat to the very skyline that was notched and gashed crudely with more
barren hills； and then； screwing the top absent…mindedly on the canteen…mouth；
leaned and peered long at the hoofprints they were following。 Beside him Lite
Avery； tall and lean to the point of being skinny； followed his movements with
quiet attention and himself took to studying more closely the hoofprints in
the sandy soil。
Applehead looked up； gauged the probable direction the trail was taking； and
gave a grunt。
〃You kin call me a fool；〃 he said with a certain challenge in his tone； 〃but
this yere trail don't look good to me； somehow。 These yere tracks； they don't
size up the same as they done all the way out here。 'N' another thing； they
ain't aimed t' meet up with the bunch that Luck's trailin'。 We're headed
straight out away from whar Luck's headed。 'N' any way yuh look at it； we're
headed into country whar there ain't no more water'n what the rich man got in
hell。 What would any uh Ramon's outfit want to come away off in here fur？ They
ain't nothin' up in here to call 'em。〃
〃These； said Lite suddenly； 〃are different horse…tracks。 They're smaller； for
one thing。 The bunch we followed out from the red machine rode bigger horses。〃
〃And carried honey on one side and fresh meat on the other； and one horse was
blind in the right eye；〃 enlarged Pink banteringly； remembering the story of
the Careful Observer in an old schoolreader of his childhood days。
〃Yes； how do you make that out； Lite？ I never noticed any difference in the
tracks。〃
〃The stride is a little shorter today for one thing。〃 Lite looked around and
grinned at Pink； as though he too remembered the dromedary loaded with honey
and meat。 〃Ain't it； Applehead？〃
〃It shore is；〃 Applehead testified； his face bent toward the hot ground。
〃Ain't ary one uh the three that travels like they bin a travelin''n' that
shore means something； now I'm tellin' yuh！〃 He straightened and stared
worriedly ahead of them again。 〃Uh course； they might a picked up fresh
horses；〃 he admitted。 〃I calc'late they needed 'em bad enough； if they ain't
been grainin' their own on the trip。〃
〃We didn't see any signs of their horses being turned loose anywhere along；〃
Lite pointed out with a calm confidence that he was right。
Still； they followed the footprints even though they were beginning to admit
with perfect frankness their uneasiness。 They were swinging gradually toward
one of those isolated bumps of red rockridges which you will find scattered at
random through certain parts of the southwest。 Perhaps they held some faint
hope that what lay on the other side of the ridge would be more promising；
just as we all find ourselves building air…castles upon what lies just over
the horizon which divides present facts from future possibilities。 Besides；
these flat…faced ledges frequently formed a sharp dividing line between barren
land and fertile； and the hoofprints led that way； so it was with a tacit
understanding that they would see what lay beyond the ridge that they rode
forward。
Suddenly Applehead； eyeing the rocks speculatively； turned his head suddenly
to look behind and to either side like one who seeks a way of escape from
sudden peril。
〃Don't make no quick moves； boys；〃 he said； waving one gloved band
nonchalantly toward the flat land from which they were turning； 〃but foller my
lead 'n' angle down into that draw off here。 Mebbe it's deep enough to put us
outa sight； 'n' mebbe it ain't。 But we'll try it。〃
〃What's up？ What did yuh see？〃 Pink and Weary spoke in a duet； urging their
horses a little closer。
〃You fellers keep back thar 'n' don't act excited！〃 Applehead eyed them
sternly over his shoulder。 〃I calc'late we're just about t' walk into a trap。〃
He benton the side away from the ridgelow over his horse's shoulder and
spoke while he appeared to be scanning the ground。 〃I seen gun…shine up among
them rocks； er I'm a goat。 'N' if it's Navvies； you kin bet they