按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The probability of a visit from the raiders； and a dash bolder than usual on the outskirts of a ranch； led Belding to build a new corral。 It was not sightly to the eye； but it was high and exceedingly strong。 The gate was a massive affair； swinging on huge hinges and fastening with heavy chains and padlocks。 On the outside it had been completely covered with barb wire； which would make it a troublesome thing to work on in the dark。
At night Belding locked his white horses in this corral。 The Papago hersman slept in the adobe shed adjoining。 Belding did not imagine that any wooden fence； however substantially built； could keep determined raiders from breaking it down。 They would have to take time； however； and make considerable noise； and Belding relied on these facts。 Belding did not believe a band of night raiders would hold out against a hot rifle fire。 So he began to make up some of the sleep he had lost。 It was noteworthy； however； that Ladd did not share Belding's sanguine hopes。
Jim Lash rode in； reporting that all was well out along the line toward the Sonoyta Oasis。 Days passed； and Belding kept his rangers home。 Nothing was heard of raiders at hand。 Many of the newcomers； both American and Mexican； who came with wagons and pack trains from Casita stated that property and life were cheap back in that rebel…infested town。
One January morning Dick Gale was awakened by a shrill； menacing cry。 He leaped up bewildered and frightened。 He heard Belding's booming voice answering shouts； and rapid steps on flagstones。 But these had not awakened him。 Heavy breaths； almost sobs； seemed at his very door。 In the cold and gray dawn Dick saw something white。 Gun in hand； he bounded across the room。 Just ouside his door stood Blanco Sol。
It was not unusual for Sol to come poking his head in at Dick's door during daylight。 But now in the early dawn； when he had been locked in the corral； it meant raidersno less。 Dick called softly to the snorting horse； and； hurriedly getting into clothes and boots； he went out with a gun in each hand。 Sol was quivering in every muscle。 Like a dog he followed Dick around the house。 Hearing shouts in the direction of the corrals； Gale bent swift steps that way。
He caught up with Jim Lash； who was also leading a white horse。
〃Hello； Jim！ Guess it's all over but the fireworks；〃 said Dick。
〃I cain't say just what has come off；〃 replied Lash。 〃I've got the Bull。 Found him runnin' in the yard。〃
They reached the corral to find Belding shaking； roaring like a madman。 The gate was open； the corral was empty。 Ladd stooped over the ground； evidently trying to find tracks。
〃I reckon we might jest as well cool off an' wait for daylight；〃 suggested Jim。
〃Shore。 They've flown the coop； you can gamble on that。 Tom； where's the Papago？〃 said Ladd。
〃He's gone； Laddygone！〃
〃Double…crossed us； eh？ I see here's a crowbar lyin' by the gatepost。 That Indian fetched it from the forge。 It was used to pry out the bolts an' steeples。 Tom； I reckon there wasn't much time lost forcin' that gate。〃
Belding； in shirt sleeves and barefooted； roared with rage。 He said he had heard the horses running as he leaped out of bed。
〃What woke you？〃 asked Laddy。
〃Sol。 He came whistling for Dick。 Didn't you hear him before I called you？〃
〃Hear him！ He came thunderin' right under my window。 I jumped up in bed； an' when he let out that blast Jim lit square in the middle of the floor； an' I was scared stiff。 Dick； seein' it was your room he blew into； what did you think？〃
〃I couldn't think。 I'm shaking yet； Laddy。〃
〃Boys； I'll bet Sol spilled a few raiders if any got hands on him；〃 said Jim。 〃Now； let's sit down an' wait for daylight。 It's my idea we'll find some of the hosses runnin' loose。 Tom； you go an' get some clothes on。 It's freezin' cold。 An' don't forget to tell the women folks we're all right。〃
Daylight made clear some details of the raid。 The cowboys found tracks of eight raiders coming up from the river bed where their horses had been left。 Evidently the Papago had been false to his trust。 He few personal belongings were gone。 Lash was correct in his idea of finding more horses loose in the fields。 The men soon rounded up eleven of the whites； all more or less frightened； and among the number were Queen and Blanca Mujer。 The raiders had been unable to handle more than one horse for each man。 It was bitter irony of fate that Belding should lose his favorite； the one horse more dear to him than all the others。 Somewhere out on the trail a raider was fighting the iron…jawed savage Blanco Diablo。
〃I reckon we're some lucky；〃 observed Jim Lash。
〃Lucky ain't enough word；〃 replied Ladd。 〃You see； it was this way。 Some of the raiders piled over the fence while the others worked on the gate。 Mebbe the Papago went inside to pick out the best hosses。 But it didn't work except with Diablo； an' how they ever got him I don't know。 I'd have gambled it'd take all of eight men to steal him。 But Greasers have got us skinned on handlin' hosses。〃
Belding was unconsolable。 He cursed and railed； and finally declared he was going to trail the raiders。
〃Tom； you just ain't agoin' to do nothin' of the kind；〃 said Ladd coolly。
Belding groaned and bowed his head。
〃Laddy； you're right；〃 he replied； presently。 〃I've got to stand it。 I can't leave the women and my property。 But it's sure tough。 I'm sore way down deep； and nothin' but blood would ever satisfy me。〃
〃Leave that to me an' Jim；〃 said Ladd。
〃What do you mean to do？〃 demanded Belding； starting up。
〃Shore I don't know yet。。。。Give me a light for my pipe。 An' Dick； go fetch out your Yaqui。〃
VIII
The Running of Blanco Sol
The Yaqui's strange dark glance roved over the corral； the swinging gate with its broken fastenings； the tracks in the road； and then rested upon Belding。
〃Malo；〃 he said； and his Spanish was clear。
〃Shore Yaqui； about eight bad men； an' a traitor Indian；〃 said Ladd。
〃I think he means my herder；〃 added Belding。 〃If he does； that settles any doubt it might be decent to haveYaquimalo PapagoSi？〃
The Yaqui spread wide his hands。 Then he bent over the tracks in the road。 They led everywhither； but gradually he worked out of the thick net to take the trail that the cowboys had followed down to the river。 Belding and the rangers kept close at his heels。 Occasionally Dick lent a helping hand to the still feeble Indian。 He found a trampled spot where the raiders had left their horses。 From this point a deeply defined narrow trail led across the dry river bed。
Belding asked the Yaqui where the raiders would head for in the Sonora Desert。 For answer the Indian followed the trail across the streem of sand； through willows and mesquite； up to the level of rock and cactus。 At this point he halted。 A sand…filled； almost obliterated trail led off to the left； and evidently went round to the east of No Name Mountains。 To the right stretched the road toward Papago Well and the Sonoyta Oasis。 The trail of the raiders took a southeasterly course over untrodden desert。 The Yaqui spoke in his own tongue； then in Spanish。
〃Think he means slow march；〃 said Belding。 〃Laddy； from the looks of that trail the Greasers are having trouble with the horses。〃
〃Tom； shore a boy could see that；〃 replied Laddy 〃Ask Yaqui to tell us where the raiders are headin'； an' if there's water。〃
It was wonderful to see the Yaqui point。 His dark hand stretched； he sighted over his stretched finger at a low white escarpment in the distance。 Then with a stick he traced a line in the sand； and then at the end of that another line at right angles。 He made crosses and marks and holes； and as he drew the rude map he talked in Yaqui； in Spanish； with a word here and there in English。 Belding translated as best he could。 The raiders were heading southeast toward the railroad that ran from Nogales down into Sonora。 It was four days' travel； bad trail； good sure waterhole one day out； then water not sure for two days。 Raiders traveling slow； bothered by too many horses； not looking for pursuit； were never pursued； could be headed and ambushed that night at the first waterhole； a natural trap in a valley。
The men returned to the ranch。 The rangers ate and drank while making hurried preparations for travel。 Blanco Sol and the cowboys' horses were fed； watered； and saddled。 Ladd again refused to ride one of Belding's whites。 He was quick and cold。
〃Get me a long…range rifle an' lots of shells。 Rustle now；〃 he said。
〃Laddy； you don't want to be weighted down？〃 protested Belding。
〃Shore I want a gun that'll outshoot the dinky little carbines an' muskets used by the rebels。 Trot one out an' be quick。〃
〃I've got a 。405； a long…barreled heavy rifle that'll shoot a mile。 I use it for mountain sheep。 But Laddy； it'll break that bronch's back。〃
〃His back won't break so easy。。。。Dick； take plenty of shells for your Remington。 An' don't forget your field glass。〃
In less than an hour after the time of the raid the three rangers； heavily armed and superbly mounted on fresh horses； rode out on the trail。 As Gale turned to look back from the