by Frank Norris
V
THE LUCK OF FOOLS
"Did you ever see a dog like Asylum?" demanded Jimmy, looking fondly atthe mongrel as they rode slowly the second day after leavingSharpsville.
Bill shook his head emphatically. "Never, nowheres."
Jimmy turned reproachfully. "Lookit how he 's follered us."
"Follered _you_," hastily corrected Bill. "He ought to. You feed an'scratch him, an' he 'll go anywhere for that. But he 's big," heconceded.
"Mostly wolf-hound," guessed Jimmy, proudly.
"He looks like a wolf--God help it--at th' end of a hard winter."
"Well, he ain't yourn!"
"An' won't be, not if I can help it."
"He ain't no good, is he?" sneered Jimmy.
"I wouldn't say that, Kid," grunted Bill. "You know there 's good_Injuns_; but he looks purty healthy right now. Why did n't you callhim Hank? They look--Good G--d!" he exclaimed as he glanced through anopening in the hills. The ring of ashes that had been a corral stillsmoldered, and smoke arose fitfully from the caved-in roof of the adobebunkhouse, whose beams, weakened by fire, had fallen under their heavyload.
"Injuns!" whispered Jimmy. "Not gone long, neither. Mebby they ain'tall--ain't all--" he faltered, thinking of what might lie under theroof. Bill, nodding, rode hurriedly to the ruins, wheeled sharply andreturned, shaking his head slowly. There was no need to explain Apachemethods to his companion, and he spoke of the Indians instead. "Theysplit. About a dozen in th' big party an' about eight in th' other. Itlooks sorta serious, Kid."
Jimmy nodded. "I reckon so. An' they 're usually where nobody wants'em, anyhow. Would n't Sharpsville be disgusted if they went north? Butlet's get out of here, 'less you got some plan to bag a couple."
"I like you more all th' time," Bill smiled. "But I ain't got no plan,except to move."
"Now, if they ain't funny," muttered Jimmy. "If they only knowed whatthey was runnin' into!"
Bill turned in surprise. "I reckon I 'm easy, but I 'll bite: what arethey runnin' into?"
"I don't mean th' Injuns; I mean that wagon," replied Jimmy, nodding toa canvas-covered "schooner" on the opposite hill. "Come here, 'Sylum!"he thundered. Bill wheeled, and smothered a curse when he saw thewoman. "Fools!" he snarled. "Don't let _her_ know," and he wasgalloping toward the newcomers.
"They shore is innercent," soliloquized Jimmy, following. "Just like ababy chasin' a rattler for to play with it."
Bill drew rein at the wagon and removed his sombrero. "Howd'y," hesaid. "Where you headin' for?" he asked pleasantly.
Tom French shifted the reins. "Sharpsville. And where in--thunder--isit?"
His brother stuck his head out through the opening in the canvas. "Yes;where?"
"You see, we are lost," explained the woman, glancing from Bill toJimmy, whose spectacular sliding stop was purely for her benefit, thoughshe knew it not. "We left Logan four days ago and have been wanderingabout ever since."
"Well, you ain't a-goin' to wander no more, ma'am," smiled Bill. "We're goin' to Logan an' we 'll take you as far as th' Logan-Sharpsvilletrail," he said, wondering where it was. "You must 'a' crossed itwithout knowin' it."
"Then, thank goodness, everything is all right. We are very fortunate inhaving met you gentlemen and we will be very grateful to you," shesmiled.
"You bet!" exclaimed Tom. "But where is Sharpsville?" he persisted.
"Sixty miles north," replied Jimmy, making a great effort to stop withthe reins what he was causing with his shielded spur. His horse couldcavort beautifully under persuasion. "Logan, ma'am," he said,indifferent to the antics of his horse, "is about thirty miles east.You must 'a' sashayed some to get only this far in four days," hegrinned.
"And we would be 'sashaying' yet, if I had n't found this trail,"grunted Tom. There was a sudden disturbance behind his shoulder and thecanvas was opened wider. "_You_ found it!" snorted George. "You mean,_I_ found it. Leave it to Mollie if I did n't! And I told you that youwere going wrong. Didn't I?" he demanded.
"Hush, George," chided his sister.
"But _did n't_ I? Did n't I say we should have followed that moth-eatenroad running--er--north?"
"Did you?" shouted Tom, turning savagely. "You told me so many foolthings I couldn't pick out those having a flicker of intelligencehovering around their outer edges. _You_ drove two days out of thefour, did n't you?"
"Tom!" pleaded Mollie, earnestly.
"Oh, let him rave, Sis," rejoined George, and he turned to the punchers."Friends, I beg thee to take charge of this itinerant asylum and itscharming nurse, for the good of our being and the salvation of oursouls. Amen."
Tom found a weak grin. "Yes, so be it. We place ourselves and guideunder your orders, though I reserve the right to beat him to a pleasingpulp when he gets sober enough to feel it. At present he reclinesungracefully within."
"You mean you got a drunk guide, in there?" demanded Bill angrily.
"He feels the yearning right away," observed George. "We 'll have totake turns thrashing Bacchus, I fear."
"How long's he been that way?" demanded Bill.
"I have n't known him long enough to answer that," responded Tom. "Idoubt if he were ever really sober. He is a peripatetic distillery andI believe he lived on blotters even as a child. The first day--"
"--hour," inserted George.
"--he became anxious about the condition of the rear axle and examinedit so frequently that by night he had slipped back into the StoneAge--he was ossified and petrified. He could neither see, eat nor talk.Strange creatures peopled his imagination. He shot at one before wecould get his gun away from him, and it was our best skillet. How thedevil he could hit it is more than I know. At this moment he may befleeing from green tigers."
"Beg pardon," murmured George. "At this moment I have my foot on hislarge, unwashed face."
"Why, George! You'll hurt him!" gasped Mollie.
"No such luck. He 's beyond feeling."
"But you will! It isn't right to--"
"Don't bother your head about him, Sis," interrupted Tom, savagely.
"Sure," grinned George. "Save your sympathy until he gets sober. He'llneed some then."
"Now, George, there is no use of having an argument," she retorted,turning to face him. And as she turned Bill took quick advantage. Onefinger slipped around his scalp and ended in a jerky, lifting motionthat was horribly suggestive. His other hand and arm swept back andaround, the gesture taking in the hills; and at the same time he noddedemphatically toward the rear of the wagon, where Jimmy was slowly going.Across the faces of the brothers there flashed in quick successionmystification, apprehensive doubt, fear and again doubt. But a suddenbackward jerk of Bill's head made them glance at the ruined 'dobe andthe doubt melted into fear, and remained. George was the first to replyand he spoke to his sister. "As long as you fear for his facial beauty,Sis, I 'll look for a better place for my foot," and he disappearedbehind the drooping canvas. Jimmy's words were powerful, if terse, andGeorge returned to the seat a very thoughtful man. He took instantadvantage of his sister's conversation with Bill and whispered hurriedlyinto his brother's ear. A faint furrow showed momentarily on Tom'sforehead, but swiftly disappeared, and he calmly filled his pipe as hereplied. "Oh, he 'll sober up," he said. "We poured the last of itout. And I have a great deal of confidence in these two gentlemen."
Bill smiled as he answered Mollie's question. "Yes, we did have a badfire," he said. "It plumb burned us out, ma'am."
"But _how_ did it happen?" she insisted.
"Yes, yes; how did it happen--I mean it happened like this, ma'am," hefloundered. "You see, I--that is, _we--we_ had some trouble, ma'am."
"So I surmised," she pleasantly replied. "I presume it was a fire, wasit not?"
Bill squirmed at the sarcasm and hesitated, but he was saved by Jimmy,who turned the corner of the wagon and swung into the breach withpromptne
ss and assurance. "We fired a Greaser yesterday," he explained."An' last night th' Greaser slipped back an' fired us. He got away,this time, ma'am; but we 're shore comin' back for him, all right."
"But is n't he far away by this time?" she asked in surprise.
"Greasers, ma'am, is funny animals. I could tell you lots of funnythings about 'em, if I had time. This particular coyote is nervy an'graspin'. I reckon he was a heap disappointed when he found we got outalive, an' I reckon he 's in these hills waitin' for us to go to Loganfor supplies. When we do he 'll round up th' cows an' run 'em off.Savvy? I means, understand?" he hurriedly explained.
"But why don't you hunt him now?"
Jimmy shook his head hopelessly. "You just don't understand Greasers,ma'am," he asserted, and looked around. "Does she?" he demanded.
There was a chorus of negatives, and he continued. "You see, he'splannin' to steal our cows."
"That's what he 's doin'," cheerfully assented Bill.
"I believe you said that before," smiled Mollie.
"Ha, ha!" laughed Bill. "He shore did!"
"Yes, I did!" snapped Jimmy, glaring at him.
"Then, for goodness' sake, are you going away and let him do it?"demanded Mollie.
Jimmy grinned easily, and drawled effectively. "We 're aimin' to stophim, ma'am. You see," he half whispered, whereat Bill leaned forwardeagerly to learn the facts. "He won't show hisself an' we can't trackhim in th' hills without gettin' picked off at long range. It would beus that 'd have to do th' movin', an' that ain't healthy in roughcountry. So we starts to Logan, but circles back an' gets him when he's plumb wrapped up in them cows he 's honin' for."
"That's it," asserted Bill, promptly and proudly. Jimmy was thesmoothest liar he had ever listened to. "An' th' plan is all Jimmy's,too," he enthused, truthfully.
"Doubtless it is quite brilliant," she responded, "but I certainly wish_I_ were that 'Greaser'!"
"Sis!" exploded George, "I'm surprised!"
"Very well; you may remain so, if you wish. But will someone tell methis: How can these gentlemen take us to Logan if they are going onlypart way and then returning after that dense, but lucky, 'Greaser'?"
"I should 'a' told you, ma'am," replied Jimmy, "that th'Logan-Sharpsville trail is about half way. We 'll put you on it an'turn back."
The strain was telling on Bill and he raised his arm. "Sorry to cut offthis interestin' conversation, but I reckon we better move. Jimmy, tiethat wolf-hound to th' axle--it won't make him drunk--an' then go aheadan' pick a new trail to Logan. Keep north of th' other, an' stay downfrom sky-lines. I 'll foller back a ways. Get a-goin'," and he wasobeyed.
Jimmy rode a quarter of a mile in advance, unjustly escaping the remarksthat Mollie was directing at him, her brothers, Bill, the dog and thesituation in general. A backward glance as he left the wagon apprisedhim that the dangers of scouting were to be taken thankfully. He rodecarelessly up the side of a hill and glanced over the top, duckedquickly and backed down with undignified haste. He fervently endorsedBill's wisdom in taking a different route to Logan, for the Apachescertainly would strike the other trail and follow hard; and to have runinto them would have been disastrous. He approached the wagonleisurely, swept off his sombrero and grinned. "Reckon you could hitany game?" he inquired. The brothers nodded glumly. "Well, get yoreguns handy." There was really no need for the order. "There 's lots ofit, an' fresh meat 'll come in good. Don't shoot till I says so," hewarned, earnestly.
"O.K., Hawkeye," replied Tom coolly.
"We 'll wait for the whites of their eyes, _a la Bunker Hill_," repliedGeorge, uneasily, "before we wipe out the game of this large section ofGod's accusing and forgotten wilderness. Any _big_ game loose?"
Jimmy nodded emphatically. "You bet! I just saw a bunch of copperheadsnakes that 'd give you chills." The tones were very suggestive andGeorge stroked his rifle nervously and felt little drops of cold watertrickle from his armpits. Mollie instinctively drew her skirts tighteraround her and placed her feet on the edge of the wagon box under theseat. "They can't climb into the wagon, can they?" she askedapprehensively.
"Oh, no, ma'am," reassured Jimmy. "Anyhow, th' dog will keep themaway." He turned to the brothers. "I ain't shore about th' way, so I'm goin' to see Bill. Wait till I come back," and he was gone. Tomgripped the reins more firmly and waited. Nothing short of anearthquake would move that wagon until he had been told to drive on.George searched the surrounding country with anxious eyes while hissister gazed fascinatedly at the ground close to the wagon. Shesuddenly had remembered that the dog was tied.
Bill drummed past, waving his arm, and swept out of sight around a bend,the wagon lurching and rocking after him. Out of the little valley andacross a rocky plateau, down into an arroyo and up its steep, furtherbank went the wagon at an angle that forced a scream from Mollie. Thedog, having broken loose, ran with it, eyeing it suspiciously from timeto time. Jeff Purdy, the oblivious guide, slid swiftly from the frontof the wagon box and stopped suddenly with a thump against thetailboard. George, playing rear guard, managed to hold on and then witha sigh of relief sat upon the guide and jammed his feet against thecorners of the box.
"So he--went back for--his friend to--find the way!" gasped Mollie injerks. "What a pity--he did--it. I could--do better myself. I 'mbeing jolted--into a thousand--pieces!" Her hair, loosening more witheach jolt, uncoiled and streamed behind her in a glorious flame of gold.Suddenly the wagon stopped so quickly that she gasped in dismay andalmost left the seat. Then she screamed and jumped for the dashboard.But it was only Mr. Purdy sliding back again.
Before them was the perpendicular wall of a mesa and another lay severalhundred yards away. Bill, careful of where he walked, led the horsespast a bowlder until the seat was even with it. "Step on nothing butrock," he quietly ordered, and had lifted Mollie in his arms before sheknew it. Despite her protests he swiftly carried her to the wall andthen slowly up its scored face to a ledge that lay half way to the top.Back of the ledge was a horizontal fissure that was almost screened fromthe sight of anyone below. Gaining the cave, he lowered her gently tothe floor and stood up. "Do not move," he ordered.
Her face was crimson, streaked with white lanes of anger and her eyessnapped. "What does this mean?" she demanded.
He looked at her a moment, considering. "Ma'am, I was n't goin' to tellyou till I had to. But it don't make no difference now. It's Injuns,close after us. Don't show yoreself."
"It's Injuns, close after us"]
She regarded him calmly. "I beg your pardon--if I had only known--isthere great danger?"
He nodded. "If you show yoreself. There's allus danger with Injuns,ma'am."
She pushed the hair back from her face. "My brothers? Are they comingup?"
Her courage set him afire with rage for the Apaches, but he repliedcalmly. "Yes. Mebby th' Injuns won't know yo 're here, Ma'am. Me an'Jimmy 'll try to lead 'em past. Just lay low an' don't make no noise."
Her eyes glowed suddenly as she realized what he would try to do. "Butyourself, and Jimmy? Would n't it be better to stay up here?"
"Yo 're a thoroughbred, ma'am," he replied in a low voice. "Me an'Jimmy has staked our lives more 'n onct out of pure devilment, withnothin' to gain. I reckon we got a reason this time, th' best we everhad. I 'm most proud, ma'am, to play my cards as I get them." He bentswiftly and touched her head, and was gone.
Meeting the brothers as they toiled up with supplies, he gave them a fewterse orders and went on. Taking a handful of sand from behind abowlder and scattering it with judicious care, he climbed to the wagonseat and waited, glancing back at the faint line that marked thearroyo's rim. In a few minutes a figure popped over it and whirledtoward him in a high-flung, swirling cloud of dust. Overtaking thelurching wagon, Jimmy shouted a query and kept on, his pony picking itsway with the agility and certainty of a mountain cat. The wagon,lurching this way and that, first on the wheels of one side and then onthose of th
e other, bouncing and jumping at such speed that it was amiracle it was not smashed to splinters, careened after the hard-ridinghorseman. A rifle bounced over the tailboard, followed swiftly by a boxof cartridges and an ebony-backed mirror, which settled on its back andglared into the sky like an angry Cyclops.
Mr. Purdy, bruised from head to foot and rapidly getting sober, emittedlanguage in jerks and grabbed at the tailboard as the wagon box droppedtwo feet, leaving him in the air. But it met him half way and joltedhim almost to the canvas top. He slid against the side and then jammedagainst the tailboard again and reached for it in desperation. Anotherdrop in the trail made him miss it, and as the wagon arose again like asteel spring Mr. Purdy, wondering what caused all the earthquakes, aroseon his hands and knees in the dust and spat angrily after the careeningvehicle. He scrambled unsteadily to his feet and shook eager fistsafter the four-wheeled jumping-jack, and gave the Recording Angel greatanguish of mind and writer's cramp. Pausing as he caught sight of theobjects on the ground, he stared at them thoughtfully. He had seen manythings during the past few days and was not to be fooled again. Helooked at the sky, and back to the rifle. Then he examined the mesawall, and quickly looked back at the weapon. It was still there and hadnot moved. He closed his eyes and opened them suddenly and grunted."Huh, bet a ten spot it's real." He approached it cautiously, ready topounce on it if it moved, but it did not and he picked it up. Seeing thecartridges, he secured them and then gasped with fear at the glaringmirror. After a moment's thought he grabbed at it and put it in hispocket just before a sudden, swirling cloud of dust drove him, chokingand gasping, to seek the shelter of the bowlders close to the wall. Whenhe raised his head again and looked out he caught sight of a suddenmovement in the open, and promptly ducked, and swore. Apaches! Twelveof them!
He had seen strange things during the last few days, and just becausethe rifle and other objects had turned out to be real was no reason thathe should absolutely trust his eyes in this particular instance. Therewas a limit, which in this case was Apaches in full war dress; so hearose swaggeringly and fired at the last, and saw the third from thelast slide limply from his horse. As the rest paused and half of themwheeled and started back he rubbed his eyes in amazement, damned himselffor a fool and sprinted for the mesa wall, up which he climbed with thefrantic speed of fear. He was favored by the proverbial luck of foolsand squirmed over a wide ledge without being hit. There was but one wayto get him and he knew he could pick them off as fast as they showedabove the rim. He rolled over and a look of mystification crept acrosshis face. Digging into his pockets to see what the bumps were, heproduced the mirror and a flask. The former he placed carelesslyagainst the wall and the latter he raised hastily to his lips. Themirror glared out over the plain, its rays constantly interrupted by Mr.Purdy's cautious movements as he settled himself more comfortably fordefense.
A bullet screamed up the face of the wall and he flattened, intentlywatching the rim. Chancing to glance over the plain, he noticed thatthe wagon was still moving, but slowly, while far to the south twohorsemen galloped back toward the mesa on a wide circle, six Apachestearing to intercept them before they could gain cover. "I was shorewise to leave th' schooner," he grinned. "I allus know when to jump," hesaid, and then swung the rifle toward the rim as a faint sound reachedhis ears. Its smoke blotted out the piercing black eyes that looked foran instant over the edge and found eternity, and Mr. Purdy grinned whenthe sound of impact floated up from below. "They won't try that nomore," he grunted, and forthwith dozed in a drunken stupor. A sober manmight have been tempted to try a shot over the rim, and would have beendead before he could have pulled the trigger. Mr. Purdy was againfavored by luck.
Leaving two braves to watch him, the other two searched for a better wayup the wall.
The race over the plain was interesting but not deadly or very dangerousfor Bill and Jimmy. Armed with Winchesters and wornout Spencer carbinesand not able to get close to the two punchers, the Apaches did no harm,and suffered because of Mr. Cassidy's use of a new, long-range Sharps."You allus want to keep Injuns on long range, Kid," Bill remarked asanother fell from its horse. The shot was a lucky one, but just aseffective. "They ain't worth a d--n figurin' windage an' th' drift of afast-movin' target, 'specially when it's goin' over ground like this.It's a white man's weapon, Jimmy. Them repeaters ain't no good for overfive hundred; they don't use enough powder. An' I reckon them Spencerswas wore out long ago. They ain't even shootin' close." He whirled pastthe projecting spur of the mesa and leaped from his horse, Jimmyfollowing quickly. Three hundred yards down the canyon two Apachesshowed themselves for a moment as they squirmed around a projection highup on the wall and not more than ten feet below the ledge. Theexpressions which they carried into eternity were those of greatsurprise. The two who kept Mr. Purdy treed on his ledge saw theirfriends fall, and squirmed swiftly toward their horses. It could onlybe cowpunchers entering the canyon at the other end and they preferredthe company of their friends until they could determine numbers. Whenhalf way to the animals they changed their minds and crept toward thescene of action. Mr. Purdy, feeling for his flask, knocked it over theledge and looked over after it in angry dismay. Then he shouted andpointed down. Bill and Jimmy stared for a moment, nodded emphatically,and separated hastily. Mr. Purdy ducked and hugged the ledge withrenewed affection. Glancing around, he was almost blinded by the mirrorand threw it angrily into the canyon, and then rubbed his eyes again.Far away on the plain was a moving blot which he believed to behorsemen. He fired his rifle into the air on a chance and turned againto the events taking place close at hand. "Other way, Hombre!" hewarned, and Jimmy, obeying, came upon the Apache from the rear, andsaved Bill's life. At hide and seek among rocks the Apache has noequal, but here they did not have a chance with Mr. Purdy calling themoves in a language they did not well understand. A bird's-eye view isa distinct asset and Mr. Purdy was playing his novel game with delightedinterest and a plainsman's instinct. Consumed with rage, the remainingIndian whirled around and sent the guide reeling against the wall andthen down in a limp heap. But Bill paid the debt and continued to wormamong the rocks.
There was a sudden report to the westward and Jimmy staggered and divedbehind a bowlder. The other four, having discovered the trick that hadbeen played upon them on the other side of the mesa, were anxious to payfor it. Bill hurriedly crawled to Jimmy's side as the youth brushed theblood out of his eyes and picked up his rifle. "It's th' others, Kid,"said Bill. "An' they 're gettin' close. Don't move an inch, for thisis their game." A roar above him made him glance upward and swearangrily. "Now they 've gone an' done it! After all we 've done to hide'em!" Another shot from the ledge and a hot, answering fire broke outfrom below. "My G--d!" said a voice, weakly. Bill shook his head."That was Tom," he muttered. "Come on, Kid," he growled. "We got todrive 'em out, d--n it!" They were too interested in picking their wayin the direction of the Apaches to glance at Mr. Purdy's elevated perchor they would have seen him on his knees at the very edge making franticmotions with his one good arm. He was facing the east and the plain.Beaming with joy, he waved his arm toward Bill and Jimmy, shoutedinstructions in a weak voice, that barely carried to the canyon floor,and collapsed, his duty done.
Bill was surprised fifteen minutes later to hear strange voices callingto him from the rear and he turned like a flash, his Colt swingingfirst. "Well, I 'm d--d!" he ejaculated. Four punchers were crawlingtoward him. "Glad to see you," he said, foolishly.
"I reckon so," came the smiling reply. "That lookin' glass of yournshore bothered us. We could n't read it, but we did n't have to. Whereare they?"
"Plumb ahead, som'ers. Four of 'em," Bill replied. "There 's twotender feet up on that ledge, with their sister. We was gettin' plumbworried for 'em."
"Not them as hired Whiskey Jeff for to guide 'em?" asked Dickinson, theleader.
"Th' same. But how 'n h--l did Logan ever come to let 'em start?"demanded Bill, angrily.
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sp; "We did n't pay no attention to th' rumors that has been flyin' aroundfor th' last two months. Nobody had seen no signs of 'em," answered theLogan man. "We did n't reckon there was no danger till last night, whenwe learned they had n't showed up in Sharpsville, nor been seenanywheres near th' trail. Then we remembers Jeff's habits, an', whilewe debates it, we gets word that th' Injuns was seen north of Cook'sranch yesterday. We moves sudden. Here comes th' boys back--I reckonth' job 's done. They 're a fine crowd, a'right. You should 'a' seen'em cut loose an' raise th' dust when we saw that lookin' glassa-winkin'. We could n't read it none, but we didn't have to. We justcut loose."
"Lookin' glass!" exclaimed Bill, staring. "That's twice you 'vementioned it. What glass? We didn't have no lookin' glass, nohow."
"Well, Whiskey Jeff had one, a'right. An' he shore keeps her a-talkin',too. Ain't it a cussed funny thing that a feller that's got ahardboiled face like his'n would go an' tote a lookin' glass around withhim? We never done reckoned he was that vain."
Bill shook his head and gave it up. He glanced above him at the ledgeand started for it as Jimmy pushed up to him through the little crowd."Hello, Kid," Bill smiled. "Come on up an' help me get her down," heinvited. Jimmy shook his head and refused. "Ah, what's th' use? She'll only gimme h--l for handin' her that blamed Greaser lie," hesnapped. "An' you can do it alone--didn't you tote her up th' cussedwall?" It had been a long-range view, but Jimmy had seen it, just thesame, and resented it.
Bill turned and looked at him. "Well, I 'm cussed!" he muttered, andforthwith climbed the wall. A few minutes later he stuck his head overthe rim of the ledge and looked down upon a good-natured crowd thatlounged in the shadow of the wall and told each other all about it.Jimmy was the important center of interest and he was flushed withpride. It would take a great deal to make him cut short his hour oftriumph and take him away from the admiring circle that hedged him inand listened intently to his words. "Yessir, by G--d," he was saying,"just then I looks over th' top of a li'l hill an' what I sees makes meduck a-plenty. There was a dozen of 'em, stringin' south. I knowedthey 'd shore hit that--"
"Hey, Kid," said a humorous voice from above. Jimmy glanced up, vexed atthe interruption. "Well, what?" he growled. Bill grinned down at him ina manner that bid fair to destroy the dignity that Jimmy had striven sohard to build up. "She says all right for you. She 's done let youdown easy for that whoppin' big Greaser lie you went an' spun her. Shewants to know ain't you comin' up so she can talk to you? How aboutit?"
"Go on, Kid," urged a low and friendly voice at his elbow.
"Betcha!" grinned another. "Wish it was me! I done seen her in Logan."
Jimmy loosed a throbbing phrase, but obeyed, whereat Bill withdrew hisgrinning face from the sight of the grinning faces below. "He 's comin'ma'am; but he's shore plumb bashful." He looked down the canyon andlaughed. "There they go to get Purdy off 'n his perch. I 'mnatchurally goin' to lick anybody as tries to thrash that man," hemuttered, glancing at George as he passed Jimmy on the ledge. Georgegrinned and shook his head. "I 'm going to give him the spree of hissinful, long life," he promised, thoughtfully.
Far to the west, silhouetted for a moment against the crimson sunset,appeared a row of mounted figures. It looked long and searchingly atthe mesa and slowly disappeared from view. Bill saw it and pointed itout to Lefty Dickinson. "There 's th' other eight," he said, smilingcheerfully. "If it was n't for Whiskey Jeff's lookin' glass that eight'd mean a whole lot to us. We 've had the luck of fools!"