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should be necessary； for she knew that proof of her honorable marriage would
end Luck's pursuitsupposing he did pursueeven though his anger might live
always for her。 She did not understand； and when an Indian confronts a
situation which puzzles him； you may be very sure that same Indian is going to
be very； very cautious。 Annie…Many…Ponies was Indian to the middle of her
bone。
CHAPTER XVII。 APPLEHEAD SHOWS THE STUFF HE IS MADE 0F
Lite Avery； turning to look back as they galloped up a long slope so gradual
in its rise that it seemed almost level； counted just fourteen Indians
spreading out fanwise in pursuit。 He turned to Applehead with the quiet
deference in his manner that had won the old man's firm friendship。
〃What's this new move signify； boss？〃 he asked； tilting his head backward。
〃What they spreading out like that for； when they're outa easy rifle range？〃
Applehead looked behind him； studied the new formation of their enemy； and
scowled in puzzlement。 He looked ahead； where he knew the land lay practically
level before them； all sand and rabbit weed； with a little grass here and
there； to the left； where the square butte stood up bold…faced and grim； to
the right where a ragged sandstone ledge blocked the way。
〃'S some dang new trap uh theirn；〃 he decided； his voice signifying disgust
for such methods。 〃Take an Injun 'n' he don't calc'late he's fightin' 'nless
he's figgurin' on gittin' yuh cornered。 Mebby they got some more cached ahead
som'ers。 Keep yer eye peeled； boys； 'n' shoot at any dang thing yuh see that
yuh ain't dead sure 's a rabbit weed。 Don't go bankin' on rocks bein'
harmless'cause every dang one's liable to have an Injun layin' on his belly
behind it。 Must be another bunch ahead som'ers； 'cause I know it's smooth
goin' fer five miles yit。 After that they's a drop down into a rocky kinda
pocket that's hard t' git out of except the way yuh go in； account of there
bein' one uh them dang rim…rocks runnin' clean 'round it。 Some calls it the
Devil's Fryin'…pan。 No water ner grass ner nothin' else 'ceptin' snakes。 'N'
Navvies kinda ownin' rattlers as bein' their breed uh cats； they don't kill
'em off； so they's a heap 'n' plenty of 'em in that basin。
〃But I ain't aimin' t' git caught down in there； now I'm tellin' yuh！ I aim t'
keep along clost t' that there butte； 'n' out on the other side where we kin
pick up luck's trail。 I shore would do some rarin' around if that boy rode off
into a mess uh trouble； 'n' I'm tellin' yuh straight！〃
〃He's got some good boy at his back；〃 Weary reminded him； loyal to his Flying
U comrade。
〃You're dang right he has！ I ain't sayin' he ain't； am I？ Throw some more lead
back at them skunks behind us； will ye； Lite？ 'N' the rest of yuh save yore
shells fer close…ups！〃 He grinned a little at the incongruity of a
motion…picture phrase in such a situation as this。 〃'N' don't be so dang
skeered uh hurtin' somebody！〃 he adjured Lite； drawing rein a little so as not
to forge ahead of the other。 〃You'll have to kill off a few anyway 'fore
you're through with 'em。〃
Lite aimed at the man riding in the center of the half…circle； and the bullet
he sent that way created excitement of some sort； but whether the Indian was
badly hit； or only missed by a narrow margin； the four did not wait to
discover。 They had held their horses down to a pace that merely kept them well
ahead of the Indians； and though the horses were sweating； they were holding
their own easily enoughwith a reserve fund of speed if their riders needed
to call upon it。
Applehead； glancing often behind him； scowled over the puzzle of that fanlike
formation of riders。 They would hardly begin so soon to herd him and his men
into that evil little rock basin with the sinister name； and there was no
other reason he could think of which would justify those tactics； unless
another party waited ahead of them。 He squinted ahead uneasily； but the mesa
lay parched and empty under the sky
And then； peering straight into the glare of the sun； he saw； down the slope
which they had climbed without realizing that it would have a crest； it was so
lowApplehead saw the answer to the puzzle； saw and gave his funny little
grunt of astonishment and dismay。 Straight as a chalk line from the sandstone
ledge on their right to the straight…walled butte on their left stretched that
boundary line between the untamed wilderness and the tameda barbed wire
fence； a four…wire fence at that； with stout cedar posts whereon the wire was
stretched taut and true。 From the look of the posts； it was not newfour or
five years old； perhaps； not six years； certainly； for Applehead had ridden
this way six years before and there had been not so much as a post…hole to
herald the harnessing of the mesa。
Here； then； was the explanation of the fanlike spreading out of the line of
Indians。 They knew that the white men would be trapped by the fence； and they
were cutting off the retreatand keeping out of the hottest danger…zone of
the white men's guns。 Even while the four were grasping the full significance
of the trap that they had ridden into unaware； the Indians topped the ridge
behind them； yip…yip…yipping gleefully their coyotelike yells of triumph。 The
sound so stirred the slow wrath of Lite Avery that； without waiting for the
word from Applehead he twisted half around in his saddle； glanced at the
nearest Indian along his rifle…sights； bent his forefinger with swift
deliberation upon the trigger； and emptied the saddle of one yelling renegade；
who made haste to crawl behind a clump of rabbit weed。
〃They howl like a mess uh coyotes；〃 Lite observed in justification of the
shot； 〃and I'm getting sick of hearing 'em。〃
〃Mama！〃 Weary； exclaimed annoyedly； 〃that darn fence is on an up…slope； so
it's going to be next to impossible to jump it！ I guess here's where we do
about an eight…hundred…foot scene of Indian Warfare； or Fighting For Their
Lives。 How yuh feel； Cadwalloper？〃
〃Me？〃 Pink's eyes were purple with sheer； fighting rage。 〃I feel like cleaning
out that bunch back there。 They'll have something to howl about when I get
through！〃
〃Stay back uh me； boys！〃 Applehead's voice had a masterful sharpness that made
the three tighten reins involuntarily。 〃You foller me and don't crowd up on
me； neither。 Send back a shot or two if them Injuns gits too ambitious。〃
The three fell in behind him without cavil or question。 He was in charge of
the outfit； and that settled it。 Pink； released from irksome inaction by the
permission to shoot； turned and fired back at the first Indian his sights
rested upon。 He saw a spurt of sand ten jumps in advance of his target； and he
swore and fired again without waiting to steady his aim。 The sorrel
pack…horse； loping along fifty yards or so behind with a rhythmic clump…clump
of frying…pan against coffee…pot at every leap he took； swerved sharply； shook
his head as though a bee had stung him；