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Then we rode up a shallow wash and out on the flat above。
There were at least a dozen Apaches off to the east； riding on a course that would join with ours somewhere ahead。 Others were ing up behind； and to the west we could see another party ing along fast to head us off。
Me； my eyes were taking in the country around。 We were being boxed。 〃All right；〃 I said； 〃we'll run！〃
And we ran。
I figure we all knew we were up against it then。 They knew we had been swapping saddles； but now they weren't going to give us a chance to do that。 They were going to run us the way they'd run wild horses； in relays。 If we stopped they'd move in and surround us； so we had to run。 And they knew where we were running to。
Oh； they were sly； all right； cunning as wolves。 Ahead of us a canyon mouth suddenly opened； a wide； shallow canyon like some of those in western Texas； with sides sloping steeply up to a sheer rock wall about thirty or forty feet high。 The Apaches closed in on the sides； driving us into that canyon like into a trap。 And we knew it would be a box canyon； with a dead end somewhere up ahead。
〃Slow down；〃 I said。 〃Rocca； we got to find us a place up on the slope； somewhere open to the top。〃
A shot rang out and one of our horses stumbled and fell。 I swore。 Nobody ever likes to see a good horse die； but this one would be eaten by the Apaches。
They had fallen behind now； but they were in the canyon top； which was over four hundred yards wide at this point。 There was a thin trickle of water in the bottom； at the east side。
We were almost abreast of what looked like a means of escape before we saw it … hollow up near the rim； a sort of half…basin scooped out by some fall of rock； followed by erosion。 Pulling up； I pointed。 〃We're going up there。〃
〃It's a trap；〃 Rocca said。 〃We'll never get out of it。〃
〃It's a place to stand and fight from；〃 Battles answered； looking up。 He wheeled his horse and started up the slope。
He rode left for about fifty paces； leading the pack horse； then back right； riding a switchback trail he was making himself。
Tampico Rocca was already down behind some rocks； and I dropped beside him。 〃Go on up；〃 I told Dorset。 〃At the top you'll have to lead your horse； but keep going。〃
She was not one to ask unnecessary questions。 She knew what Rocca and I were set to do； and she wasted no time。 John J。 Battles was already halfway up； and he was on his feet； leading his struggling horses。 Harry Brook； with one of the Creed boys； was right behind him； but being lighter they could stay on the horses。
Spanish Murphy was waiting。 Winchester in his hand； and when Dorset passed him he followed； leading the other horses。 They strung out on the trail； making quite a cavalcade。
〃Tamp；〃 I said； 〃there's a steep fall of rock； a sort of watercourse； to the left of where they are going up。 It will be steeper but faster。〃
〃Bueno；〃 he said； and looked around at me。 〃It has been a good race。 A very good one； I think。〃
The Apaches were ing closer … there must have been at least thirty of them。 Again I glanced at the slope； checking out the route； the possible cover； the quickest way to the hollow up under the rim。 It was farther up there than it looked； and already the others were looking a lot smaller； but they still had a way to go。
One of the Apaches was trying to climb the slope behind us。 Rocca tucked the butt of his Winchester against his shoulder； held his aim for an instant； and fired。 We saw the Apache slip； half fall； then catch himself and turn his horse away from us。
We waited。 The other Indians were scattering out now。 We fired； choosing our targets； but we could not see whether we scored or not。 But all the Apaches in sight went to the ground。
Rocca ducked back； running swiftly from rock to rock。 He was an Apache again himself； swift and daring； yet sure。 He paused once； shot quickly； then ran on。
I balanced my Winchester in my hands； took a quick glance toward a bunch of brush and rocks about thirty feet away； and ran for it。 A bullet kicked dust just ahead of me 。。。 another ricocheted off a rock with an angry snarl； a nasty sound； the flattened bullet could have made an ugly wound。
Crawling a dozen feet； and scrambling through the brush； I got up again； rounded a boulder； and was in plain sight of them。 I brought my rifle up swiftly。 An Apache was running straight toward me when I stepped out； but before he could stop or hunt cover； I squeezed off my shot。
He was not seventy yards away and was facing full toward me； and there was no way I could miss。 The bullet caught him running； and he took two steps before he pitched on his face in the gravel of the slope。
Up the watercourse I could hear scrambling feet； and I ran that way。 I was taking long strides； leaping from rock to rock like a mountain goat； with lead spattering around me。 Once I lost my footing； my heel skidded off a water…worn boulder； and I was pitched into the sand。 I came up fast and felt a bullet snatch at my hat as I fired 。。。 and missed。
The Apache I'd seen was gone。 The one I had killed was still lying back there on the gravel。
My breath was tearing at my lungs but I scrambled on up； crawling over boulders； pulling myself from rock to rock。 From time to time I was out of their sight。
Suddenly Rocca was right ahead of me。 He turned to speak and I saw the bullet catch him。 It dusted him on both sides； and he squatted suddenly on his haunches with blood ing from his side； staining his shirt。
He let go of his rifle and started to fall forward； but I caught him。
Ahead of us was about sixty yards of talus slope； and then the hollow toward which we'd headed。
When I caught Rocca I just naturally let him fall across my shoulders； catching hold of his collar with my right hand。 My Winchester was in my left； and I reached down and got a finger through the lever on his rifle and lunged up straight。 Then I started up the slope。
That struggle up； with Rocca across my shoulders； my breath most gone； and those bullets ing toward us from behind 。。。 I never want to do that again。
Somehow I made it； and then stumbled and sort of fell into the hollow。 Somebody lifted Rocca off my back； and I saw he'd been hit at least one more time。
Gasping for breath； I stared around me。 They were all there； Dorset； the children； Murphy； and Battles； and the horses。 And now there was us two。
〃The trouble is；〃 John J。 Battles said； 〃we're trapped。 There's no way out。〃
Chapter 13
The hollow was nowhere more than seventy or eighty feet across； and the side up which we had e spilled over in a slope of broken rock and gravel。 Elsewhere the sides sloped up steeply in banks of blown sand and gravel； littered with broken rock from the escarpment above； and dotted with sparse brush。 The sheer wall above varied from eight feet in height to twice that。
Our rifles could mand the slope down to the canyon where the Apaches now were。 With no trouble； one or two men could prevent them from reaching us。 On the other hand； if they reached the top of the mesa above us； we could be picked off at their leisure。
My eyes searched the rim。 It was cracked and broken； and there were places where a m