Part 28 (2/2)

”If she is willing, sir.”

McCalmont's ears went back against his head, he lifted his nose to the west, pointing up wind. There was a sound like the thud of raindrops on dust, a soft pattering which came nearer and stronger. He loosed off the long yell to rouse the three men who were resting by the barn, he told Jim to pick up his gun and help, he jumped for the team horses and led them to the buckboard.

The pattering had grown up out of the distance to a steady rush of sound, the ground had begun to quiver, then to shake, then with a yell of warning, Buck and his sentries came thundering in from the desert.

CHAPTER XX

THE MARSHAL'S POSSE

McCalmont backed his team to the buckboard, lifted the waggon tongue to the ring of the yoke bar, and jumped to hitch on the traces, just as Buck reined all standing to report.

”There's a strong posse,” says Buck, ”coming out from the Mule Pa.s.s--maybe sixty riders, and they're sh.o.r.ely burning the trail straight for this ranche.”

”Were you seen?”

”No, seh!”

”Bowlaigs, Johnny, Steve, yo're mounted, so you'll collect the herd, drive north, and keep wide of the trail! Crazy Hoss, hold this team!

Doc, throw my saddle on that sorrel, and lead north; Buck, make the camp search, and follow, closing all signs 'cept the wheel-track! Jim, help the herders! Git a move on!”

McCalmont had got through with the harnessing while he slung his orders; now he went to work smooth and quiet, pulling on his shaps (leather leg-armour) and buckling his spurs while his cool eye searched the yard.

”Buck,” he called, ”let the water drain out of that hoss trough. That water wouldn't look natural on an empty ranche.”

McCalmont brought Curly in his arms, bedded her down in the rig, drew the ground-sheet over to keep off the sun and dust, and pa.s.sed a las.h.i.+ng across.

After that he locked the door of the cabin, and hung the key on its nail. It was just that thoughtfulness in little plays which made McCalmont loom up great in his business. Two minutes after the first alarm he grabbed the reins, jumped to his seat, and drove off slow from the yard, aiming to show by the tracks that c.o.c.ky Brown's old buckboard had not pulled out in a hurry. Buck and Crazy Hoss stayed to brush out a few spare tracks, put up the slip rails and follow. For all one could see at the little _ranchita_ La Soledad, the owner, c.o.c.ky Brown, had trailed off for supplies to the city, then a couple of riders had happened along shortly after, and read the notice which was left for ”Dere Bill” on the door.

McCalmont just poured his whip into the team as Buck came up abreast.

”All set?” he asked.

”All set, seh.”

”Can we get behind them hills befo' we're seen by the posse?”

Buck looked back to the boys who were sweating the herd astern. ”Yes,”

he shouted, ”I reckon. You done right smart, seh, to get Curly out 'n that mess.”

”You'll be pleased to know, Buck, that my Curly is engaged to be mar'ied to this du Chesnay colt.”

Buck's face went white, but he just spurred along saying nothing. A fold of the ground shut out the ranche behind, a hill barred off the country to the left, and, if the posse could see the dust of the flying outfit, they might well mistake that for one of the whirlwinds which curve around the desert wherever the sun burns strong.

”Buck,” says McCalmont, ”reach back to the skyline, and see if that posse puts out on our trail from the ranche. At dusk I quit this Grave City road, and strike due east. If yo're delayed, jest roll yo' trail right east for Holy Crawss. In the mawning we round up all the stock we can find thar, and pull out for home. You understand?”

”I understand,” says Buck, and swung off for the skyline.

<script>