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themselves and in the ultimate goal； which was Ramon。 They saw nothing queer
about the trail they followed； and they saw no evidence of treachery anywhere。
They rode with the rifles slung under their right thighs and their
six…shooters at their hips； and their eyes roving casually over their
immediate surroundings while their minds roved elsewherenot because they
were growing careless； but because there was absolutely nothing to rouse their
suspicions； now that they no longer bad Applehead along to preach danger and
keep them keyed up to expect it。
They followed the tracks through a scattered grove of stunted pinons； circled
at fault for a few minutes in the rocks beyond； and then picked up the trail。
They were then in the narrow neck which was called the handle of the Devil's
Frying…panand they would have ridden unsuspectingly into the very Pan
itself； had not the Native Son's quick eyes caught a movement on the rim…rock
across the bare； rock…bottomed basin。 He spoke to luck about it； and luck
levelled his field glasses and glimpsed a skulking form up there。
〃Hunt yourselves some shelter； boys！〃 he cried in the sharp tone of warning。
〃We'll make sure who's ahead before we go any farther。〃
They ducked behind rocks or trees and piled off their horses in a burry。 And a
scattered fusillade from the rim…rock ahead of them proved how urgent was
their need。
For the first fifteen minutes or so they thought that they were fighting Ramon
and his party； and their keenest emotions were built largely of resentment；
which showed in the booming voice of Big Medicine when he said grimly：
〃Well； I'd jest about as soon pack Ramon in ；dead； as lead 'im in alive 'n'
kickin'； by cripes！ Which is him； d'yuh reckon？〃
From behind a rock shield luck was studying the ledge。 〃They're Injunsor
there are Injuns in the bunch； at least；〃 he told them after a moment。 〃See
that sharp point sticking up straight ahead？ I saw an Injun peeking around the
edgeto the south。 You watch for him； Andy； and let him have it where he
lives next time be sticks his head out。〃 He swung the glasses slowly； taking
every inch of the rim in his field of vision。 As he moved them be named the
man be wanted to watch each place where be had reason to suspect that someone
was hiding。
The disheartening part of it was that he needed about a dozen more men than he
had； for the rock wall which was the rim of the Frying…pan seemed alive with
shooters who waited only for a fair target。 Then the Native Son； crouched down
between a rock and a clump of brush； turned his head to see what his horse was
looking at； back whence they had come。
〃Look behind you； Luck；〃 he advised with more calmness than one would expect
of a man in his straits。 〃They're back in the pines； too。〃
〃Fight 'em offand take care that your backs don't show to those babies on
the rim…rocks；〃 he ordered instantly； thrusting his glasses into their case
and snatching his rifle from its boot on the saddle。 〃They won't tackle coming
across that bare hollow； even if they can get down into it without breaking
their necks。 Happy； lead your horse in here between these rocks where mine is。
Bud； see if you can get the pack…horses over there outa sight among those
bushes and rocks。 We'll hold 'em off while you fix the horsescan't let
ourselves be set afoot out here！〃
〃I…should…sayNOT！〃 Andy Green punctuated the sentence with a shot or two。
〃Say； I wish they'd quit sneaking around in those trees that way； so a fellow
could see where to shoot！〃
A half hour dragged by。 From the rim…rock came occasional shots； to which the
besieged could not afford to reply； they were so fully occupied with holding
back those who skulked among the trees。 The horses； fancying perhaps that this
was a motion…picture scene； dozed behind their rock…and…brush shelters and
switched apathetically at buzzing flies and whining bullets alike。 Their
masters crouched behind their bowlders and watched catlike for some open
demonstration； and fired when they had the slightest reason to believe that
they would hit something besides scenery。
〃Miguel must have upset their plans a little；〃 Luck deduced after a lull。
〃They set the stage for us down in that hollow； I guess。 You can see what we'd
have been up against if we had ridden ten rods farther； out away from these
rocks and bushes。〃
〃Aw； they wouldn't dast kill a bunch uh white men！〃 Happy Jack protested；
perhaps for his own comfort。
〃You think they wouldn't？ Luck's voice was surcharged with sarcasm。 What do
you think they're trying to do； then？〃
〃Aw； the gov'ment wouldn't STAND fer no such actions！〃
〃Well； by cripes； I hain't aimin' to give the gov'ment no job uh setting on my
remains； investigatin' why I was killed off！〃 Big Medicine asserted； and took
a shot at a distant grimy Stetson to prove he meant what he said。
〃Say； they'd have had a SNAP if we'd gone on； and let these fellows back here
in the trees close up behind us！〃 Andy Green exclaimed suddenly； with a
vividness of gesture that made Happy Jack try to swallow his Adam's apple。 〃By
gracious； it would have been a regular rabbit…drive business。 They could set
in the shade and pick us off just as they darned pleased。〃
〃Aw； is that there the cheerfullest thing you can think of to say？〃 Happy Jack
was sweating； with something more than desert heat。
〃Why； no。 The cheerfullest thing I can think of right now is that Mig； here；
don't ride with his eyes shut。〃 He cast a hasty glance of gratitude toward the
Native Son； who flushed under the smooth brown of his cheeks while he fired at
a moving bush a hundred yards back in the grove。
For another half hour nothing was gained or lost。 The Indians fired
desultorily； spatting bit& of lead here and there among the rocks but hitting
nobody。 The Happy Family took a shot at every symptom of movement in the
grove； and toward the； rim…rock they sent a bullet now and then； just to
assure the watchers up there that they were not forgotten； and as a hint that
caution spelled safety。
For themselves； the boys were amply protected there on the side of the
Frying…pan where the handle stretched out into the open land toward the
mountain。 Perhaps here was once a torrent flowing from the basin…like hollow
walled round with rock； at any rate； great bowlders were scattered all along
the rim as though spewed from the basin by some mighty force of the bygone
ages。 The soil； as so often happens in the West； was fertile to the very edge
of the Frying…pan and young pinons and bushes had taken root there and managed
to keep themselves alive with the snow…moisture of winter； in spite of the
scanty rainfall the rest of the year。
The boys were amply protected； yes； but there was not a drop of water save
what they had in their canteens； and there was no feed for their horses unless
they chose to nibble tender twigs off the bushes near them and call that food。
There was； of